Moses to welcome him and Lady Montefiore on their entry
into the Holy Land. He was renowned for his great learning and noble
character, which he had so often manifested in the performance of his
official duties, as spiritual guide of the community; and being a
disciple of the celebrated Rabbi Eliahu Wilna, he was held in high
esteem by all the congregations in the four holy cities. Both Sir
Moses and Lady Montefiore were much affected by the mournful event,
and lost no time in considering what steps should be taken to evince
their sympathy with the bereaved family.

The following day being Sabbath, they attended divine service,
afterwards receiving numerous visits from the inhabitants of the
place. One gentleman from Tiberias gave a most melancholy account of
the state of the country; he assured them that the roads to Jerusalem
were very unsafe, and the plague actually in the city. Only a few days
before the holidays the son-in-law of the late Rev. Israel, and his
servant, had died of it.

The visits they received from the Druses caused us much uneasiness, as
we apprehended an attack from their body to plunder not only us, but
all Jews in the town; and we should have proceeded early the next
morning to Tiberias had we not feared such a course would give the
appearance of flight.

The heads of the Portuguese and German congregations came to pay their
respects to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore. Two of these gentlemen, the
Rev. Abraham Shoshana and Samuel Aboo, were land owners in a
neighbouring village, and gave their opinion on the subject of
agriculture. Sir Moses, referring in his diary, to their conversation,
says:

"From all information I have been able to gather, the land in this
neighbourhood appears to be particularly favourable for agricultural
speculation. There are groves of olive trees, I should think, more
than five hundred years old, vineyards, much pasture, plenty of wells
and abundance of excellent water; also fig trees, walnuts, almonds,
mulberries, &c., and rich fields of wheat, barley, and lentils; in
fact it is a land that would produce almost everything in abundance,
with very little skill and labour. I am sure if the plan I have in
contemplation should succeed, it will be the means of introducing
happiness and plenty into the Holy Land. In the first instance, I
shall apply to Mohhammad Ali for a grant of land for fifty years; some
one or two hundred villages; giving him an increased rent of from