Jerusalem, when compared with European cities, is
now only a small town, round which the traveller may
walk in less than 50 minutes, containing a population of
about 28,000, which includes the Jews, of whom there are
8,000. These Israelites are generally very poor, and
settle in Jerusalem, because money is frequently sent
there from Europe by wealthier Jews for the relief of
their poorer brethren in Palestine ; but, at the present
time, there is no indication whatever of any gathering of
Jews on an extensive scale from other countries to their
own land. The missionaries who labour amongst them
meet with comparatively little encouragement in their
work, for the number of true converts from Judaism to
Christianity is extremely small, a fact mentioned, not as
a discouragement for service, but to stir up Christians
to prayer. Since our return from Palestine, however,
these brethren have' been more successful in their labours,
and have had great cause for thankfulness.
On the afternoon of Dec. 3rd we joined a party of
English friends, and rode on donkeys to Bethany, a mile
and a half distant, the English clergyman kindly acting
as our guide. On our way we crossed the Brook
Kidron, saw the Garden of G-ethsemane, now enclosed
by a wall ; and visited the cave, hewn out of a rock,
where it is supposed Lazarus was buried. An old
ruined house, said to have been the dwelling place of
N— 2



180 MISSIONARY TOURS AND LABOURS

Martha, Mary and Lazarus, was also pointed out.
