14. This singular excitant, extensively known in
the age of the Crusades, appears to have been used
by the Saracens for a double purpose, to kindle up
the ardor of the soldier against the Paynim, and in
larger dose to beguile his adversary into a careless
security and so to facilitate the stealthy use of the
poignard. In the neighborhood of Mount Libanus
there existed from the beginning of the twelfth cen-
tury for about one hundred and fifty years a military
organization, made up for the most part of rude
hordes gathered out of the tribes of Kurdistan. Ish-
maelitish by genealogy, vindictive in their passions
and implacable in their resentments, while professing
fealty to the Crescent they campaigned oftener in
reality, " their hand being against every man and
every man's hand being against them." Their gen-
eralissimo was known as " Le Vieux de la Montagne"
(Von Hammer). At Allamut and Massiat were their
famed gardens, secluded by high walls from the vul-
gar gaze but within adorned with every decoration
and luxury that could entrance the vision and capti-
vate appetite ; and here presided girls of enchanting
beauty and ravishing seductiveness, the houris of the
scene. Into this " outer court of the temple," the
youthful aspirant to the honor of a matriculatory
membership having been previously drugged with
hashisch, was mysteriouslj^ conveyed, here to breathe



328 opium.
