The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-12-15
1ell and whistle and they soon came

| DeIOfe we got under way again. While
tied up to the bank quite a number of
Arabs collected on the shore, coming
no doubt from some neighboring village.
The soldiers amused themselves by
bombarding them with small potatoes
which they had secured from the cooks
galley. The Arabs evidently knew
what potatoes were, and if by mis-
chance one missed, they hunted around
in the sand until they found it. Pota;
toes giving out the soldiers secured
Jumps of coal, but after a few natives
had been hit they all retired to safe
distance and squatting around in the
sand remained talking and regarding
the transport until we finally cast loose
from the shore and resumed our Jour
ney.
Arriving at Suez City at Z a. m. the
next day we dropped. anchor and the
launch went ashore to pick up the party
from Cairo. The train from Cairo,
however, did not arrive at Suez City
until about p. m. and it was 6 o'clock
in the evening of Jan'y 18th when we
finally got under way again. The Cairo
party all arrived safe and were all we'll
pleased with the trip and entertained
us that evening with tales of Cairo and
the Pyramids.
The Gulf of Suez is nearly 100 miles
long and we did not reach the Red Sea
until the next morning. In passing
through we witnessed some very beau
tiful sunsets, and passed quite close to
the islands called the Twelve Apostles.
Leaving the Red Sea we crossed the
Gulf of Alden and on the morning of
Jan'y oath anchored off the town of
Alden, outside of the English garrison.
Alden is not much of an important
place, being more of coaling station,
and very little could be seen from the
transport The scattered buildings are
entirely surrounded by towering cliffs.
The soldiers were allowed ashore and
many were off. The English soldiers
here were engaged off and on in chasing
some little trouble. They had num-
Der of wounded men in the hospital,
and some of the soldiers who visited
the transport could tell quite a few
tales of engagements and forced
marches across the sandy deserts in
futile attempts to capture the elusive
Arab.
At Alden our stay was limited to the
time it took to coal, and as soon as the
bunkers were filled we left Alden and
I'll lCl Il PlCdSCblt NVydSC dIlOoo VilC
Arabian sea sighted the island of
Ceylon early on the morning of Feb.
End and at o'clock were anchored in
the harbor of Colombo On landing |
was impressed by the neat appearance
of the streets, the red clay making a
beautiful contrast. The first sight that
greets the eye upon leaving the dock is
statue of Queen Victoria. The street
leading from the dock is the principal
one. All the business houses have an
air of prosperity and numerous carts
laden with tea and spices from tt e
plantations bound for Sir Thomas Lip
toms warehouses for shipment to all
parts of the world, passed through the
streets drawn by the native OK. An
electric street car line runs through the
principal thoroughfare and a railroad
connects with the interior Jinrick-
Sha'S predominant and many of our
soldiers could be seen riding around in
them taking in the sights and enjoying
themselves generally. The suburbs of
Colombo are very picturesque. The
streets are neat and wide and one is
we'll repaid by ride outside of the city
and a visit to the Buddhist or Hindo
Temples. Colombo is situated on mar
row neck of land and crossing this the
promenade is reached, where in the
evenings society turns out in carriages,
jinricksha's or afoot, to enjoy the mu-
sic of the garrison band and to walk or
drive by the beach, where the breakers
come rolling in over a level stretch of
white sand and the sea breeze is always
fresh.
The transport while in Colombo was
surrounded with bumboats, displaying
curiosities in carved ebony OF ivory, or
vending fruit. Quite little amuse-
ment was furnished by juggler who
came aboard and performed number
of sleight of hand tricks with live rab-
bit and chicken and various other arti-
Giles. Some of the feats performed were
new to me. Native divers padded out
to the ship on two pieces of logs tied
together and dived for coins thrown
into the water, seldom missing one.
Feb. 4th we steamed out of the harbor
and it was with regret that l saw the
island of Ceylon left behind us.
Between Colombo and Singapore We
passed the island of Sumatra- Arriving
at Singapore on the morning of Feb.
10th we anchored quite little distance
rough and soldiers going ashore had
ooulC llClIC UlOuOIC III Oesh
into boats. Finally the transports
boats were lowered and the launch
lowed several boat loads of soldiers
ashore That evening the transport
went into dock to coal and the soldiers
ashore had no trouble in getting back
aboard ship. Singapore is busy place,
but in the city itself there were not
many places Of interest, and after
had spent the day wandering about the
streets and through the various quar-
tiers of the place stopped in a eating
house and secured as good meal AS
one can obtain in any of these ports;
and the best isn't as good as a 25 cent
meal in any restaurant in the United
States. Returning to the transport in
the evening we left the dock the next
morning, Feb. 18th, and started on the
last stretch of our long journey. In
going out of the harbor we passed quite
close to an English man-of-w war at an
Choir, and as we were within hailing
| distance the commanding officer re
quested the men to give three cheers
for King Edward, which tine men did
with a will, the English sailors respond
ing by cheering for the President of the
United States. Having pleasant wealth
er from Singapore we made good time
| and at about Q a. m. Feb. 18th sighted
the island of Corrigedor at the entrance