the same evening, and insisted on our occupying one of the mission-houses on Mount Zion.  The plague is still in Jerusalem, so that we must keep ourselves in quarantine.  The plague only communicates by contact, so that we are not allowed to touch any one, or let any one touch us.  Every night we heard the mourners going about the streets with their dismal wailings for the dead.  On Sabbath Mr. Nicolayson read the prayers, and Dr. Black preached from Isaiah 2:2.  Dr. Keith in the evening.  Three converted Jews were among the hearers.  On Monday (10) we visited the sepulchre, and a painful sight, where we can find no traces of Calvary.  Same evening rode up to the Mount of Olives:  past Gethsemane, a most touching spot.  Visited Sir Moses Montefiore, a Jew of London, encamped on Mount Olivet; very kind to us. 11.—­Went round the most of the places to be visited near Jerusalem,—­Rephaim, Gihon, Siloa’s brook, ’that flowed fast by the oracle of God;’ the Pool of Siloam; the place where Jesus wept over the city; Bethany,—­of all places my favorite; the tombs of the kings.  Such a day we never spent in this world before.  The climate is truly delightful,—­hot at mid-day, but delightful breezes at morn and even. 12.—­A business day, getting information about Jews.  In the evening, walked to Aceldama,—­a dreadful spot.  Zion is ploughed like a field.  I gathered some barley, and noticed cauliflowers planted in rows.  See Micah 3:12.  Jerusalem is indeed heaps.  The quantities of rubbish would amaze you,—­in one place higher than the walls. 13.—­We went to Hebron, twenty miles south; Mr. Nicolayson, his son, the Consul and ladies accompanying us, all on mules and horses, Judah’s cities are all waste.  Except Bethlehem, we saw none but ruins till we reached Hebron.  The vines are beautifully cultivated here, and make it a paradise; The hills all terraced to the top.  We spent a delightful evening and all next day.  We met the Jews, and had an interesting interview with them.  We read Genesis 18, and many other Bible passages, with great joy.  Saw the mosque where the tomb of Abraham and Sarah is. 14.—­Returned by Bethlehem to Jerusalem.  Bethlehem is a sweet village, placed on the top of a rocky hill,—­very white and dazzling.  You see it on both sides of the hill.  At Rachel’s sepulchre you see Jerusalem on one hand and Bethlehem on the other,—­an interesting sight,—­six miles apart.  On Sabbath we enjoyed the Lord’s Supper in an upper chamber in Jerusalem.  It was a time much to be remembered.  Andrew preached in the evening from John 14:2, 3. 17.—­The plague has been increasing so that we think it better to depart.  Last visit to Gethsemane, and Bethany, and Siloam.  Evening.—­Took farewell of all our friends at Jerusalem, with much sorrow you may believe.  Went due north to Ramah, by Gibeon, and slept at Beer, again in our tent, in Benjamin. 19.—­Passed Bethel, where Jacob slept.  Passed through the rich and rocky defile of Ephraim, by Lebonah, to Sychar.