74 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book II.

green and sparkling waters for horizon on oneside, and on the other those gorgeous mountains,presented a most impressive view whether youapproached Acre by land or sea. The populationwas usually calculated at one hundred and fiftythousand, a third more than Jerusalem. Acre wasby far the gayest and most fashionable place thenin existence. It had no duties, nor, it wouldappear, any other taxes than a very small capitationand an easy land tax. But the tithes were ratherheavy, as were the feudal obligations on knightsand large proprietors. Altogether these were thebright features which had, for counterpart, the wantof order in the legislation. There are said to havebeen seventeen jurisdictions for various nations,each of which pretended to be governed by its owncode—Venetians living exclusively in one street,Genoese in the next, Pisans, Templars, Syrians, andso on; most of those having acquired their rights longprevious to the Hospitallers’ reign there. IndeedVenetians, Pisans, and Genoese, date by treatiesfrom the first crusade, nor could Richard havegiven away what did not belong to him; nor didhe pretend to conquer, but only restore, and Acrehad been a fief of Jerusalem, and those Franks hadtitle deeds that derived from former Kings ofJerusalem; but the Hospitallers, having much of