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258

VISIT TO SYRIAM.
[[strikethrough]] Friday [[/strikethrough]] Sat, Feb. [[strikethrough]] 4 [[/strikethrough]] 5     
[[strikethrough]] September 14 [[/strikethrough]]

Was so tired from standing so many hours at work, I dozed off while the Tun Thins were still visiting.

Sunday, February 6th,

Completely interesting day. Baird Helfright called for me at 8.30 A.M. (I had been up at 6) We left for the pier to take a boat to Syriam. While waiting for the boat, which was delayed - I took photos of some of the people on the pier, squatting there with their bundles, packages, coolie hats, large umbrellas. One particularly interesting type was an Indian in a turban, holding two fighting cocks. The hustle & bustle was unbelievable - particularly the unloading of large reed, round baskets of chickens which 3 men carried off - putting a large bamboo rod between 3 baskets & then placing the rod across their left shoulder.


259

Visit to Syriam.   
Sun. Feb. 6
[[strikethrough]] September 15 [[/strikethrough]]

Also fascinating were two Indian fishermen, white bearded, naked to the waist, magnificent bodies, casting their nets in the water. We took a sampan (some of them called 'bird' boats - beautifully shaped (they row standing up pushing the rows forward) Our sampan was simply half a tree, hollowed out with narrow slabs of wood on the sides to increase the width of the sides. The river looked muddy & shallow, the current, however, was surprisingly strong.

When the boat came in - one would have thought there was a fire panic, in the mad scramble to get aboard, while the passengers were still getting off. We pushed & shoved with the rest of them & got seating space - (2 small footstools, for which one pays) near the sail. One pays, too, for the use of the mats when one sits on the