dinars, worth in the money values of today almost that many English pounds, and a like payment at a later date, besides the annual tribute. In the meantime Shirkuh had entered the country and crossed the Nile some forty miles south of Cairo. In a short time Amalric's army appeared on the opposite bank. After some maneuvering, during which both armies moved close to Cairo, Shirkuh retreated and the two armies met in battle at el Babein. Here Shirkuh repeated the tactics of Nur ed-din at Harem. Saladin was placed in command of the cavalry in the center and, to make his force appear larger than it really was, the baggage was planted in the middle of his troops. Saladino instructions were to give way after early resistance, then turn and fight his pursuers, leaving Shirkuh to engage the remainder of Amalric's forces in the absence of his cavalry. The event turned out as planned. When Amalric's soldiers came back from their engagement with Saladin they found their Egyptian allies running from Shirkuh, and themselves turned tail, abandoning their baggage and equipment. Thus Saladin had acquitted himself brilliantly in his first independent engagement. However, Shirkuh did not feel strong enough to follow up the allied forces and turned north, entering Alexandria without opposition, where he left Saladin in command while he went skirmishing through the country. In the siege of Alexandria by Amalric and his Egyptian allies, lasting seventy-five days, the un