he came very punctually at nine o'clock. We were immediately admitted
to the presence of Mohhammad Ali. He received me standing, then taking
his seat on the divan, he motioned me to a seat on his right hand, Dr
Loewe next to me, and Colonel Campbell on the left of the Pasha. His
Highness gave me a very gracious reception, and spoke on each of my
requests. Referring to the one for renting land of him in Palestine,
he said he had no land there, but any contract I might make with the
Mussulmans should have his approval, and he would send it to
Constantinople for confirmation.

"On repeating that I had been led to believe that his Highness
possessed land there, from information I had received when in the
country, he replied that if I could point out the parts belonging to
him, I could have them.

"He said he would be glad to see the land better cultivated, and I
might send proper persons with agricultural implements.

"I then spoke to him on the subject of the Jews being admitted as
witnesses at Safed, Tiberias, and Hebron, in the same manner as in
Jerusalem. He first said that on account of their religion they could
not be permitted to give evidence against Mussulmans, but on my again
repeating that they were so permitted in Jerusalem, he replied that
Jews and Christians should be treated alike, and there should be no
difference between them.

"I then spoke to him as to the rebuilding of the wall round the town
of Tiberias, which had been destroyed by the earthquake. I said there
were plenty of stones on the spot, and people willing to do the work
free of expense, as the inhabitants were at present so much exposed to
robbers. At first he misunderstood me, and asked which wall it was
that the Jews wished to repair. I explained to him that both
Mussulmans and Jews were equally anxious that the city wall should be
repaired: both had written and spoken to me on the subject whilst I
was at Tiberias, begging me to represent to him the present insecure
state of the city; all that was required was his order to have the
work done. He said he would order a report to be made immediately to
him, and the wall repaired.

"I told him that in the cultivation of land, security was necessary
for both land and person, and I hoped they would have it. This he also
promised.

"I then spoke of establishing joint stock banks with a capital of
L1,000,000 sterling, with power to increase it, if necessary. His eyes
sparkled at this; he appe