appointed. And he called a Moor who spake the mixed language, and
instructed him how to get out of the city by night, so that the
Christians might not see him, and told him that when he had given that
letter to the King of Zaragoza, the King would give him garments, and a
horse, and a mule to ride on, and that he himself would show favour
unto him as long as he lived. So the messenger departed with the
letter. And the famine in the town waxed greater, and food was not now
bought by the _cafiz_, neither by the _fanega_, but by ounces, or at
most by the pound. And the pound of wheat cost a _maravedi_ and a half,
and that of barley a _maravedi_, and that of painick a _maravedi_ and a
quarter, and of pulse a _maravedi_, and of flax-seed three parts of a
_maravedi_, and of cheese three _dineros_, and of honey three, and of
figs one; and the _panilla_ of oil was eight _dineros_, and the pound
of colewort five, and the ounce of carobs three parts of a _dinero_,
and the ounce of onions the same, and the head of garlick the same; and
a pound of beast's flesh was six _maravedis_, and grape-stones were
half a _dinero_ the pound, and the skins of kine and of beasts five
_dineros_; the _dinero_ was silver, for there was no money current save
silver and gold.

XXIV. When the King of Zaragoza saw the letter which Abeniaf and the
men of Valencia had sent him, he gave no heed to it, neither cared he
for the messenger, neither did he give him even a draught of water for
his reward. And the messenger waited for his answer from day to day for
three weeks, and he dared not depart without it for fear least Abeniaf
should slay him; and he thought also that some of the King's people
would come out after him and slay him upon the way; and he was urgent
for his answer, and began at last to cry aloud at the gate of the
King's house, so that the King asked of what that messenger was making
his complaint. Then they told the King that he wanted his answer that