I woke at 5.15 am. The ship had stopped and my curiosity got the better of me. I threw on a housecoat and ran up to the deck. It was just beginning to get light. The Pilot had just boarded our ship, and the small ship he came on was a nice sight � lit up with coloured fairy lights.
Already there were small boats making their way over. I went down again and got back into bed. I had knocked at Harry�s door but could not rouse him. I got up again at 6 am and dressed. Harry was up and we both went up.
The ship had moved nearer to the landing stage, but we were not allowed to land. The Egyptian police came aboard, well armed, and the fellows below rowed round in their little boats and began selling their wares. They made a price, and you just kept beating them down until you got the price you wanted.
We bought a feather holdall, complete with zips and locks for 25/-, a handbag for 12/-Leather wallets were 2/6d, with ornamental figures on. A very nice raffia workbasket was 3/-. They send them up in a basket tied with a rope, and you put the money in the basket if you wanted the goods. It was great fun while it lasted.
We sailed again at 1.30 pm, just as we were having luncheon. We went up on deck and sat for a couple of hours. The sun was warm but the wind was bitterly cold and very strong.
We sailed up the Suez Canal, and there is a desert on both sides. There are little towns placed here and there, and the houses are very low huts. I don�t know how some of the Arabs live in such filthy little huts. Some are only made of canvas like a small tent and are dotted here and there on the banks. We passed quite a large town where there were larger buildings, a railway and a ferry. We saw the Arab men and women, also plenty of camels. It is all very interesting.
The rest of the day was much the same. We wrote a few letters home � this is a �must� when we are getting near a Port of Call.
In the evening we spent an hour in the lounge where a crowd of young people were enjoying themselves singing to the playing of an accordion.
Early to bed. |
