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178 One part has a depressed cement floor and [[underline]] shower and tap for bathing. [[\underline]] The water runs away to the gutter, so one can shower and splash himself as much as needed. There is also a [[underline]] noisy electric [[\underline]] fan - [[underline]] French manufacture. [[\underline]] W.C.s are separate and acceptable. [[underline]] Place is run by a Greek, Manouris. [[\underline]] There is another hotel, smaller a block apart from this. Mr. [[underline]] Emon, [[\underline]] keeper of local garage, (a [[underline]] Frenchman) [[\underline]] was at the landing to tell me that he had car and driver ready for me. The car is a [[underline]] "Citroen [[\underline]] de Luxe". A small car with two seats, barely long enough to carry 2 small valises while travelling. The driver is an [[underline]] Annamite [[\underline]] [[end page]] [[start page]] 179 boy of 23. [[underline]] White helmetted, [[\underline]] white duck suit and [[underline]] bare-footed [[\underline]] as all are here. He wears his [[underline]] white uniform [[\underline]] directly on [[underline]] his naked body [[\underline]] without the bother of superfluous shirts nor showers. When he feels to hot, [[underline]] he sheds his jacket, then his trousers, last of all his helmet, [[\underline]] then [[underline]] wraps a sarong [[\underline]] around his waist. Very simple trick. [[underline]] Mekong River [[\underline]] is low and the high well built sloping embankments are built stepwise. Almost naked coolies strong muscled and brown glistening bodies [[underline]] carry heavy loads on bamboo poles [[\underline]] slung over shoulders from steamers or sampans to the high terrace. Hard work in burning sun but they do it [[underline]] cheerfully while singing a low chanting [[\underline]]