Ibn Jubair

“ Their head, who is chief of the customs, is called simply sahib —a title derived from the importance of his work; for the Christians employ this name for all their important men who are not in the army. ”

“ During our whole stay at Tyre, we found repose only in the mosque which has remained in the hands of our brethren, although there are other mosques.
Among the principal citizens of Damascus, there were two extremely wealthy merchants. All their trade was carried on along the Prankish coast, where their names were held in high esteem and they had agents under their orders. Caravans which bore their merchandise were constantly going and coming; they had colossal fortunes, as well as great influence both with the Mussulman and Prankish princes. ”

“ The highest portion reaches to the sky. It is called Al-Astil. It contains retreats, where armed men can enter and conceal themselves. Any one who goes in has no chance of escape from an enemy who is seeking him. [2] At the entrance and the exit there are rapid descents, and we were astounded when we saw these places. Soon after we had passed them, we reached Tibnin, a large and strong castle belonging to the Franks, where they collect the tolls from the caravans. It belongs to a sow [princess] known as the queen, and mother of this hog [king] of Acre—may Allah destroy him! ”

“ But Acre is larger, and the infidels are more boastful and more numerous. The strength and impregnability of Tyre are of the most marvelous character, and depend mainly upon the fact that there are only two gates. One opens upon the mainland ”

“ Merchants do not have to pay it when they go to the city which the Christian prince inhabits, where a tax is exacted on the merchandise. This tax amounts to a kirat per dinar, and twenty-four klrats make a dinar. It is mainly Western Mussulmans who pay it; the other inhabitants of the Mussulman countries are usually exempt. It originated in a circumstance which brought down the anger of the Franks upon the former. ”