six. The road was very rocky,
and the ride, especially the descent to Nablous, the ancient city of
Shechem, exceedingly difficult. We encamped close to the well of
Jacob. Many of our brethren came from the city to welcome us, and
brought with them some fine poultry and fruit, which they requested
Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore to accept. They did not enter our tents,
as we were fearful of contagion.

Sir Moses had, eight or ten days previously, sent them a number of
printed forms, for the purpose of inserting under particular headings
any statistical information they could give respecting their own
community. These he now requested them to let him have, as he desired
to distribute some money among those who stood in need of assistance.
Fortunately they had already prepared the papers required, and it did
not take long to send a messenger to the Synagogue, who brought them
without delay.

_Wednesday, June 5th._--We visited the tomb of Joseph, and copied the
inscription on the wall. We said our prayers there, and proceeded to
the village of Awarta, where we copied the Samaritan and Arabic
inscriptions on the tombs of Phineas, Eleazar, and Ithamar, the sons
of Aaron the High Priest. We also visited the tombs said to be those
of the seventy elders, and then continued our way to Jerusalem. At
twelve o'clock we rejoined our attendants, who had already prepared
various refreshments for us in a tent pitched for our accommodation,
near a well called "Eyn" or Khan Lebban. We were much fatigued, and
the heat was excessive. While we were partaking of our repast, many
persons, travellers and others, came to water their beasts. Some of
the Mussulmans, after performing their ablutions at the well, said
their prayers, and a number of young women, with pitchers on their
heads, came from the neighbourhood to fetch the cool water from the
inexhaustible spring of Laban.

At four o'clock we left this pleasing scene, and ascended a high
mountain by a desperately stoney road, on the edge of precipices. On
the summit we were surprised at finding a very lovely plain, well
cultivated, and with many gardens, containing fig, olive, and almond
trees, as well as vines. We erected our tents at six o'clock in the
corner of a field near the village of Snidgil. Both on that and the
previous day we met many families, Jews, Christians, and Mussulmans,
flying from Jerusalem to escape the plague; the accounts which they
gave us were extremely alarming.