New-York tribune., 1899-03-27
SOMEWHERE EAST OF SUEZ.
TRIP OF TRANSPORT GRANT THROUGH
THE RED AND ARABIAN SEAS.
v.suINGTON's BIRTHDAY on THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE WORLD-SCENES AT PERRIN
CoRDIALITY OF \ SCOTCH CRAFT.

j
i SIDE OF THE woRLD-sCENEs AT PERRIN
CORDIAIITY OF \ SCOTCH CRAFT.
ON Roard T. s A. Transport Grant on the
Indian Ocean longitude 6s east. latitude y
north Feb % (SpeciaD-What did you at home
do on Washington's Birthday? Or is the elo-
ouence still flowing the cigars yet burning, at
the bannuets? Come to think of II. you can l
have finished your day yet. for IL Is only
midnight in New York, while our day al'ei
has already begun. We tried to honor the Gay
I'm fact we nearly succeeded. AT O'Clock III inc
morning our 6-pounders told the hying-Hsh u
the Arabian Sea that we revered the memory VI
the Father Of His Country, the band played iol
guard mounting only the patriotic tunes VI
home and we looked out over waters even oiuei
than those of the Mediterranean. and thought
OF you all"
The men had an extra dinner. wherein mar
velIous puddng figured conspicuously. Dlu YOU
ever see three barrels OF any kind OF puddlhs :
That was about the size OF the one made TOT
the men OF this command on washington
natal day. as we celebrated it yesterday
Somewheres east OF Suez
on the road to Mandalay.
At night we had our usual band concert, ana
as a finale thereto the band played ana we al
sang America" And how the men did sing
Then we gave three roaring cheers for fa'"e'
George and his country Call TO quarters
sounded then taps. and silence crept over the
Grant
some of us sat long by the starboard rail gaz-
ing at the Southern Cross. shlnihg p'''"an.S
we'll above the horizon Some one remarked: Tine
matinees are just about beginning at ho",'
That finished us. The officer OF the guard max
raplV
he nut as ne passed, you men going 10 si' up
all night" Cigars had died out pipes "N
cold the day was done.
THE CoALING STATION AT Perrin
IN the Straits Of Babel Mandeb lies an ISL
and called Perrin. There we stopped Tor coa'
on February H. and there we again saw t'hs"s"
faces and met English hospitality.
Tho island Is a group Of low-lyng hills, EVIL
IDENTIFY OF volcanic origin. with small but deep
and safe harbor Of circular form the ring oi
land onen to the southwest. the entrance to the
barbor being only about half a mile i'll Wlutn'
The surface of the island is comlietey GOV -
cred with the small dark powders pecular u
volcanic regions Two or three groups oi pu'''
jngs with a cable office. coal company an" 'o'"
government Offices the only eVIue"0e' -
European occupation ,
4 norton Of the island has been cleareu ~
stones and few ptiful attempts TO grow plants
NAV, M, seen The cooe quarter with lts 10"
stone buildings. hat-roofed and near toge'hei'
was extremely interesting. The buildings are
,.i,hout openings except doorways. Here I'VE
J.; tho utmost dirt the labOrers. POOR ueNH9
.;,, wages Of ONLY s. q month for that harueS'
of v,ork-coaling In and out of the narro" AZ
Ievs wandered peculiar sheep-'h"se WIZ" '
hroad edible tails They look more ike eo"'N
than sheep. 49, horbor
...a,or leo is manufactured here by the coa
comnanv All other supplies are brought tro"
Aden. about one hundred miles away
Going ashore to walk about bit. some OF US
clirnbed the hill - the cable Office WheIe "i''
catlos are operated There we saw messages
transcribed in English, French and IurNish' an"
nm over the desk OF the chief operator vas
",var" calendar Of the Armour fafhlhs VA"
many. The pretty. American giri there ueP''''
in uniform of blue or khaki, with forage cap ~
can,naicn hat. looked daintier and prettier than
ever.
LIFE OF WHITE MAN IN THE TFoFICS'
llr. Little the manager Of the cable oihc''
eoon appcarcd and went into MS quarters
and had our first view Of the life cf Whlte ma"
IN the tropics There were noselesS' Dro""
harefootcd servants in loose white garments
0oft in movement and soft OF speech lat'lceu
vcrandas punkahs. Scotch and SODA ana c"''c'-
tons Of Notwithstanding spears and knives Oh
walls Of white. Noatness everywhere the COOL
ness Of quiet over all.
Somali Land and Arabia contribute the LABOR
ers for the Perrin Coal Company, Limited liz
Somalis however, serve only as boatmen, thry
,viI nor handle coal over all rules In a husi-
ness way the resident manager of the coal com
pany Mr Turner Ii was odd To near MN sa?
when asked for his address, Turner hed Hea.
II was NOT unlike "DepeW. New-York. but II
was the reflected greatness of the central sun Oh
the commercial system, England everywhere.
As the coal barges were being emptled by the
slender 1.-the men Of brown. there came along
side from off the island the finest swimmers OF
our acquaintance. They knew enough OF Eng
. lsb to rrv SILVER and THANK you Nlckcls
are not current in Perrin. but silver coins thrown
I'm the water seldom escape those experts. Coal
ing finished by midnight. we bade adeu 10 thc
members of the hospitable little English clup
and passing between Socotra ana the African
mainland came out in'o these waters.
GOOD WISHES FROM A STRANGER VESSEL.
Sunday morning we sighted nearly dead ahead
n vessel moving east BY o'clock we had come
abreast Of her Signals of name were exchanged l.
then our chance companion of the sea hoisted
Have YOU had a pleasant voyage" We an
swered with "Yes Goodby" As We looked we
saw sailor of the stranger come down over her
rail and with brush and white paint write on
the dark side in letters two feet high, Good
luck" Immediately three Of the heartiest cheers
were given by our men. and Captain Arey an
swered again Thank you.
But the skipper Of the Clan Robertson. Of
Glasgow was net yet done. In earnest
showed on his signal halyards. our band was
playing on the other side Of the Grant. but was
brought across. and the musicians blew their
loudest on God Save the Queen" Forward ran
the crew OF the Clan Robertson. down came the
flag of England at her stern. and there re-
maincd until the last note had been blown
across the water. Sunday afternoon seemed
brighter TO us after such gOOd-fellOWship.
~ sklnnar frnIn l,lAsgmM 4 fllr