ALGONQUINS 309 the Blackfeet and Cheyennes, regarded as iso- lated branches of the same .family. Various dialects of the Algonquin have been studied and reduced to grammatical rules, by mission- aries and others, Eliot's Indian Bible being the most extensive work published in it, while the labors of Eliot, Edwards, Roger Williams, House, Schoolcraft, Zeisberger, Du Ponceau, Gravier, Rale, Le Boulanger, Baraga, and Cuoq furnish the best data for study and comparison. At the beginning of the 17th century the Algon- quins numbered apparently more than a quar- ter of a million ; and the survivors must even now number 40,000. There is no little con- fusion in the later writers as to the locality of the Algonquin tribe, from which the family took its name ; but from the earlier explorers it is evident that they lived on the Ottawa river, the chief band being called also Kichi- sipirini (men of the great river). They were enemies of the Iroquois, and levied a sort of toll on all the canoes that passed down the river to trade with Europeans. They induced the French to join in the war against the Iro- quois, but were almost annihilated by war and disease. The only remnant of the Algonquins is at the Lake of the Two Mountains. Their dialect has been modified by intermixture with the kindred Nipissings and Ojibways, so that its original dialectic forms are scarcely traceable. ALGUAZIL, or Algnaeil, in Spain, an inferior officer of the law, answering to a constable or bailiff. The algnazils are appointed by the judges, the alguazil mayor or head constable by the town council. ALII MA, the name of several towns in Spain, from the Arabic al and hammiyat, a warm bath. The most important is about 25 m. S. W. of Granada, picturesquely situated in the Sierra de Tejada; pop. about 7,500. Its mine- ral waters were in much request among the Moors, who drew a large revenue from the springs. The water is sulphurous, strongly im- pregnated with nitrogen gas, and on the surface a substance like oil may be observed ; while in cold weather a sort of soapy substance is de- posited on the pipes through which the water passes. In Roman times the site was occupied by Artigi (or Astigi) Juliensis, one of the chief inland cities of Bsetica. It was afterward a Moorish stronghold, in which the treasury of the kings of Granada was guarded. It was captured by the Spaniards by a night assault in February, 1482. The Alhambra, from the Albaycin. ALHAMBRA (Ar. Kal '-al-hamrah, the red castle), a suburb of Granada, fortified in the strongest manner known to the middle ages, capable of containing 40,000 men, and enclos- ing the exquisite remains of a Moorish palace, whose beauties have been celebrated by all travellers, and admirably illustrated by the pen of Washington Irving. Situated in the midst of noble woods, surrounded by gardens, and built with sumptuousness and yet with taste, this beautiful spot contained everything that could contribute to the security and gratifica- tion of the Granadian princes. The Hall of Lions is the grand apartment of the palace ; it is so called from a splendid fountain supported by lions, and is entirely constructed of marble and alabaster, and ornamented, with the most delicate fretwork and arabesques. The Hall of the Abencerrages is still more beautiful. The ceiling is of cedar wood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, ivory, and silver; and the walls are stuccoed and ornamented with ara- besques of the most elegant and intricate de- sign. The colors still retain their brilliancy,
