28 THE HISTORY OE THE ORDER OF [book i.

a company of three hundred courtezans, regularlyshipped out together in the same ship, to amusethe warriors,who were some of them unmarried, andsome separated from their wives—which improprietysoon becoming known, many emirs, Mamelukes, andother Mahometans, contrived to frequent the Chris-tian camp on visits to those sprightly ladies. Theseappear to have been considered by the infidels asan essential part of our military discipline, to keepand direct the spirits of the soldiers towardsfurthering whatever plans their commander-in-chiefmight have . 1

Excellent divers—who passed through the Chris-tian camp by night—and carrier pigeons were theonly communication with Acre now . 2 An embassyfrom the Caliph of Bagdad brought some Greekfire, as a sample, and five men, who knew how tocompose and throw it . 3 Saladin next came backto Kissan and his vast and most beautiful camp.In July, Count Henry, who was related to bothPhilip and Richard, came with news of the Frenchand English crusade, which from hour to hourmight be expected . 4 “ See the Pope of the Franks,”said Saladin in a letter to the caliph, “how heimposes taxes for the holy war, and whatever he

1 Arab. Chron., 258. 2 Id., 260—286.

3 Id., 261. “ Id., 282.