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[[preprinted]] 24 [[/preprinted]]
[[underlined]] Antigua [[/underlined]] 1. 
[[margin]] VII-27-36 (cont.) [[/margin]] 
We sighted Antigua about as soon as we rounded the end of Montserrat.  As we approached, we could see the fine beaches and bays on the north west.  We anchored off the entrance to St. John's Harbour at about 1:30.  At one o'clock we went down to lunch but were told we would have to wait till second table.  Finally at ten minutes to two we got in, and had to hurry through in order to meet the Harbour Master before he went ashore.  The meal was very poor, no vegetables and no choice of anything else.  The menu was filled with such things as dressings, hors d'ouevres, pickles, etc. 
I finally found Mr. Griffiths, the Harbour Master, and asked him about the houses for rent - at the Fort.  As they were taken for six weeks, we'll have to go to a boarding house. 
The purser had the package sent from Harry Ison by way of the Nerissa purser.  I can't imagine how it [[underlined]] could [[/underlined]] have gotten onto the northbound Lady Nelson! 
We came ashore in the launch and were simply besieged by boys on the pier.  I left Ruth at the Customs House and went to Bennett Brysons to make arrangements.  There I met Mr. Petri-Hay, head of the company.  He recommended Avon [[Casett?]]
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[[preprinted]] 25 [[/preprinted]]
as the nicest place to stay. He sent a man to get our luggage together, and then drove me around to pick up Ruth. She had already hired a boy, Roberts, so we paid him off and promised him a job later on. Mr. Petri-Hay drove us to Avon [[Cassett?]]. The proprietress is very ill, - not expected to live, and her granddaughter had no authority. The result was that the price was too high, and we decided to look about elsewhere. We called a car and went to the Globe Hotel. The young lady manager had no power to alter the rates which would have been $170 a month! Of course we couldn't think of that so we tried Mrs. Mason's, - a guest home. She seemed very nice and agreed to take us for $80.00 a month. We got a nice big room, well-furnished, with electric lights. The house had a big lawn and garden, and Mrs. Mason has a beautiful big cat (rather like an Angorra) and an equally beautiful Macaw - brilliant gold and blue.
We didn't do very much unpacking, but got out the mail that arrived just before we left Montserrat and rested. Both of us were more than usually upset by the trip - perhaps the hurrying through lunch after waiting nearly two hours for it.