282 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OE [book I.

veterans, and furnish recruits. 1 Many hospitals,and particularly the great hospital at Damascus,were founded by him; so vast and wealthy anestablishment for all Mahometans in general, richor poor, without distinction, that, “ once asking,’’says the historian of the Atabecs, “ for a doctor, Iwas directed to the great hospital, where the doctorwrote me a recipe and said, ‘ In a moment myapprentice will bring it to you.’ To which Ireplied, 1 But, Sir, thanks be to Heaven, I can payfor my oavii drugs, without trespassing on theproperty of the poor.’ On which, he looked atme steadily: ‘ 0 Sir, I have no doubt but youcan do without our drugs; but here no one disdainsto accept Noureddin’s benefits. In the name ofGod, I assure you that emirs and sovereign princessend to this hospital for their medicine, and neverpay.’ £ I was ignorant of that.’ ‘ It is that hisdesire was to be useful to all Moslems, rich orpoor!’” 2 He also erected many khans, or caravan-serais, 3 as well as forts, fortresses, and mosques, andmonasteries for sophis; and he it was who erectedthat most useful invention, pigeon posts, 4 and mag-nificent colleges for every sort of science, which, atthat time meant more than theology, or mere

1 Arab. Chron., 165. 2 Id., 167.

3 Id., 167. 4 Id., 150.