volume one

266 HISTOEY OF THE CRUSADES.
barren mountains of Sion, Hebron, Hebal, and Gelboei,
presented the aspect of a land upon which the curses of
Heaven had fallen. This land, formerly promised to the
elect people of God, had several times changed inhabitants.
All the sects, all the dvnasties of the Mussulmans, had disputed
the possession of it sword in hand, and revolutions
and wars had left numerous memorable ruins in its capital,
and in the greater part of its provinces. The religious ideas
of the Mussulmans and the Christians seemed alone to give
history must, however,
importance to the conquest of Judea ;
guard against the exaggeration ^4th which certain travellers
have spoken of the sterility of this unfortunate country.*
Amidst the calamities which, during many ages, desolated
the pro^'inces of Palestine, some traces of its ancient splendour
may still be perceived. The shores of the Lake of
G-alilee and of the Jordan, some valleys watered by the
Besor, the Arnou, and the Jaboc, and the plains contiguous
to the sea which war had not ravaged, still recalled by their
fertility the promises of Scripture. Palestine yet boasted
some flourishing cities, and several of its ports offered a
commodious asylum to the vessels of Asia and Europe.
In the condition of Palestine at that time, if the territory
had been entirely subject to Godfrey, the new king might
have equalled in power the greater part of the Mussulman
princes of Asia ; but the young kingdom of Jerusalem con-
sisted but of the capital and about twenty cities or towns in
its neighbourhood. Several of these cities were separated
by places still occupied by the infidels. A fortress in the
hands of the Christians was near to a fortress over which
floated the standard of Mahomet. In the surroimding
country dwelt Turks, Arabs, and Egvptians, who all united
to make war upon the subjects of Godfrey. The latter were
not free from alarm even in their cities, which were almost
all badly garrisoned, and found themselves constantly exposed
to the terrors and evils of war. The lands remained uncultivated,
and all communications were interrupted. Amidst
so many perils, several of the Latins abandoned the possessions
which rictoiy had bestowed upon them ; and that
* An excellent dissertation on the Holy Land, by the Abbe Guenee,
in Les Memoires de V Academic des Itiscriptions, may be consulted with
advantage.