city. The other part of the city is surrounded by the river. It is a
strongly fortified city, and is under the sway of Prince Boemond
Poitevin[55], surnamed le Baube. Ten Jews[56] dwell here, engaged in
glass-making, and at their head are R. Mordecai, R. Chayim, and R.
Samuel.

[p.27]

From here it is two days' journey to Lega, or Ladikiya, where there
are about 100 Jews, at their head being R. Chayim and R. Joseph.

Thence it is two days' journey to Gebal (Gebela), which is Baal-Gad,
at the foot of Lebanon[57]. In the neighbourhood dwells a people
called Al-Hashishim[58]. They do not believe in the religion of Islam,
but follow one of their own folk, whom they regard as their prophet,
and all that he tells them to do they carry out, whether for death or
life. They call him the Sheik Al Hashishim, and he is known as their
Elder. At his word these mountaineers go out and come in. Their
principal seat is Kadmus, which is Kedemoth in the land of Sihon. They
are faithful to each other, but a source of terror to their
neighbours, killing even kings at the cost of their own lives. The
extent of their land is eight days' journey. And they are at war with
the sons of Edom who are called the Franks, and with the ruler of
Tripolis, which is Tarabulus el Sham[59]. At Tripolis in years gone by
there was an earthquake, when many Gentiles and Jews perished, for
houses and walls fell upon them. There was great destruction at that
time throughout the Land of Israel, and more than 20,000 souls
perished[60].

[p.28]