From very ancient days it has been known how Egypt lies between two inhospitable deserts condemned to sterility, for which reason the land could produce no harvest were it not fertilized by the abundant Nile. This river seeks to expand itself and seasonally washes through adjacent regions. Hence it contracts or enlarges, bringing with this deluge the blessing of agriculture. Upper Egypt the people call Seith because long ago there was a city named Sais of which Plato makes mention. Lower Egypt they call in their language Phium, albeit no one could say why. At one time this region was called Thebiad because of opium cultivated there, a remedy physicians call Theban. And from top to bottom, where some assert the world ends in darkness, all agree that Egypt overflows with marvels. Here live horrific serpents and lizards, most fearful being the dragon, which makes a commotion in the air while slinking from its cave. Whatever the dragon grasps must die. Indeed, the elephant is not safe despite his monstrous bulk. They say the dragon inhabits Ethiopia or mayhap India where it lurks near footpaths used by elephants and ties them in knots to suffocate them. Yet we should remember that God creates all and what He is pleased to create should please us and we should render praise to Him. His manifold works exceed reckoning.
Scythia is the home of griffons, which are savage birds, mad beyond insanity. In Hyrcania live panthers marked by delicate spots. Also the beast leucocrotta, which surpasses others in speed, with the haunch of a stag, head of a badger, and cloven hooves. There is the mantichora, which exhibits the visage of a man with sparkling eyes, the body of a lion, and a spiked tail enabling it to sting like the scorpion. The voice of a mantichora is reputed to be musical and sibilant, causing listeners to think of a flute. There are skinks and lacertae, which do not experience passion unless hurrying in search of their mates. The amphisbaena, which vaunts two heads. The yale, whose two horns sway back and forth during battle. But who could account for the infinitude of animals, birds, and fishes? All being the handiwork of God must be marvelous. Yet infinitely more wonderful is He who imagined and composed them.
Latin parchment tells how Lord Hugh and Geoffrey the Templar were guided through Cairo by imperial attendants who displayed swords and made a huge noise, how they were escorted through the palace, each gallery more astonishing than the one previous, each guarded by Nubians with gleaming black skin. The Franks were amazed and did not know what to think. They saw water spouting from gold pipes, marble pillars, fish basins inlaid with carving. They walked across patterned floors, heard the warble of songbirds captured from all four corners of Africa. They saw the peacock spreading jeweled wings and creatures like those dreamt by men asleep. Quadrupeds glaring, howling, gibbering. Afreet. Gyascutus. Barghest. Wivern. Harpy. The fearsome basilisk whose body is striped white, who crawls on his lower half while his upper half stands erect, whose glance brings death and subordinate vipers tremble. Such wonders did Lord Hugh and Geoffrey the Templar behold, such prodigies cavorting through gardens, such curiosities chained or caged as would tempt a painter to represent or a poet to rhyme. Solinus who traveled through Egypt in very ancient days remarked similar things.
The sultan of Cairo led these Franks into a room boasting a silk curtain thickly encrusted with pearls, rubies, and emeralds. The sultan approached humbly, removed a jeweled sword dangling from a gold chain around his neck and placed it on the carpet. Twice he prostrated himself, exhibiting reverence akin to terror. Whereupon with astonishing rapidity the silk curtain flew aside. On a throne fashioned from gold, surrounded by eunuchs and counselors, sat the caliph. The sultan, after kissing one of his slippers, told the purpose of these Franks.
In those days Caliph al-Adid was no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, in the flower of youth, his skin very dark, his features girlish. Thrice yearly he showed himself in public for the adoration of citizens. They called him lord and thought the Nile must rise at his command. The number of his wives exceeded calculation. Each day he took a different woman, idling away his life in dissolute games, leaving the administration of Egypt to his vizier. What man is master of himself when shackled by chains of lust?
It is said that he listened cheerfully while the sultan explained provisions of the treaty and the urgent need addressed therein. To all of which the youth responded that he would accept and fulfill the stipulations, with a most liberal interpretation, out of regard for King Amalric.
The Franks sought reassurance. They asked Caliph al-Adid to confirm the pact with his own hand as was usual in the West, which horrified the counselors grouped about him. To them such a request was beyond understanding. Finally, urged by the sultan, after much deliberation, the caliph extended one hand draped with a veil.
Lord Hugh then addressed the caliph. Sire, in matters of trust there can be no deviation, since when princes bind themselves to one another they conceal nothing. Therefore, unless your hand is freely offered, we must think there is some lack of honesty on your part.
At last, much averse, yet displaying a faint smile that humiliated members of the court, Caliph al-Adid gave his bare hand to the Frankish knight. Then he repeated, syllable by syllable, each word spoken by Hugh, thereby promising that he would honor the stipulations without fraud or evil intent. Later he sent generous gifts to the ambassadors, which greatly recommended him, causing Lord Hugh and Geoffrey the Templar to depart for Jerusalem more than a little satisfied.
At that time no city was richer than Cairo. And being a nest of pagan
