in the late 19th century, al-birwa grew to be a large village, with a well in its southern area. to the north lay "beautiful olive-groves and fruitful wheatfields," as they were described by one western traveller to the region in the mid-19th century. american biblical scholar edward robinson visited al-birwa in 1852 and noted that it was one of 18 villages in palestine with an operating christian (eastern orthodox) church. by 1859, british consul edward t. rogers recorded that al-birwa had approximately 900 inhabitants. the french explorer, victor guérin, who visited in 1875, described the christians of birwa as greek orthodox, and noted that they had a "fairly new" church.