chastise some of the subordinate rulers of Mesopotamia for going over to the Sultan. The atabeg was scared this time and sent his mother and cousin, accompanied by many ladies of high degree, to plead with Saladin to permit the control of Mosul and its dependencies to remain with its present possessors, members of the family of Nur ed-din. Some of the Arab chroniclers are disposed to be critical of the Sultan's reception of these ladies, alleging he would not receive them. The truth appears to be that for once he would not allow himself to be wheedled out of his plans, which were too important to permit sentimental influences to intervene, and, while he was courteous, he was not to be dissuaded from his purpose. But Mosul could not be taken. Its defenses were too strong and its citizens too good soldiers to be overcome except by prolonged siege, and Saladin never would stick to that if he could avoid it. It was hot and exhausting besides, and he was glad to find an excuse to take his army over to the cooler lands of Armenia, where the alleged tyranny and bad faith of the ruler towards Moslems who had entered his territory upon his invitation, had brought an appeal to the Sultan. This trouble satisfactorily settled, Saladin returned to the attack upon Mosul. But now the rainy season was on, and he appears to have been susceptible to the illnesses which come from exposure to miasmas. This time it was so serious it was thought