Muley Yezzid, like his Majesty George IV., was the first horseman
in his empire, and the most accomplished gentleman: whereas
Buhellesa[187], for so he was called in derision, was so bad a
horseman that he generally rode a mule.

[Footnote 187: So called from his generally riding a mule, with
a large stuffed saddle, rising high before and behind, covering
the whole of the mule's back, and forming a very secure seat.
This enormous and ponderous saddle-mattras is called _Hellesa_;
and as the Pretender rode on it, he was called _Bu Hellesa_;
that is the father of a _Hellesa_.]
288
This man was reported to be an adept in the occult sciences; and it
was both reported and credited, that the occult art enabled him to
multiply corn and provision for the army to any quantity he might
want. I was established at Santa Cruz, which was three days'
horse-travelling from Buhellesa's standard; the (_Shereef,_) Prince
Abdsalam, brother to Yezzid, was then resident there, and Viceroy
of Suse. It was the Prince Abdsalam's desire to destroy this
pretender; for his army and followers exceeded now thirty thousand
men, the Prince sent to Muhamed ben Delemy, khalif of Suse, and
sheik of the Duleim Arabs, whose castle was about thirty miles
south of Santa Cruz. Delemy and the Prince were sworn friends: the
latter proposed to him to give battle to Buhellesa, and so prevent
the empire from being usurped. Neither Delemy nor the Prince had
funds to raise an army; so that neither of them knew what steps to
take. _Delemy, however, with the true spirit of a Bedouin Arab,
supported his friend in his adversity,_ and promised to exert
himself to counteract the operations of the arch-hypocrite
Buhellesa. Collecting the sheiks of the various kabyls of Suse, he
made an energetic harangue to them; and discussed with them the
expediency of their uniting together, to repel the impostor. The
sheiks were all loyal, and well affected to Muley Abd Salam; whose
289 government of Suse, by his khaliff Delemy, added to the
hospitalities with which the Prince entertained the people of Suse
at his domain, the _Wah el Grabie_, or the Oasis of Ammon, called
_Santariah_, ingratiated Muley Abd Salam so much in their favour
and esteem, that they all unanimously (_passed l'aad_[