Viewing page 30 of 102

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

54
the ship at the most unexpected moment for no apparent reason whatever, [[underline]] even not claiming any money due them [[/underline]] On the other hand Malay are excellent swimmers. [[underline]] while Chinamen are not [[/underline]] and do not [[underline]] like to dive or arrange anything on rudder or propeller On the afterdeck covered by an enormous slanting wooden roof we get the [[underline]] combined [[/underline]] heat and [[underline]] smell [[/underline]] of the [[underline]] Engine + the perfume of the fish. [[/underline]] The steerage passengers are better off on the foredeck. They are all fussing & cooking and eating always squatting [[strikethrough]] on their [[/strikethrough]] on their heels. It was so warm in my cabin that [[underline]] I went to sleep Chinese fashion, [[/underline]] on the [[underline]] big bare table [[/underline]] on the after deck, [[strikethrough]] where a [[/strikethrough]] on which we had had our dinner. One learns from these people
[[end page]]
[[start page]]
55
to sleep on bare boards. am told that the white people are the only ones who sleep on soft mattresses. The other passengers slept on bench or on a deck chair. The Malay woman had her mattress put above the hatch and there slept with her restless child. [[underline]] Steamer goes 10 knots, [[/underline]] which is just as fast as our following wine, so there is no breeze and much smell. Now and then we stop near an Island, there there is a lot of talk in Cambodgian or Chinese. the [[underline]] only lonely French white [[/underline]] official [[underline]] comes aboard [[/underline]] has a little talk with the Captain exchange of news. since 14 days a bottle of beer, than "Au Revoir" At 2 A.M we get near the dock at Ream some mail and freight put in and out. Oil lamps on deck. then further on [[underline]] while trying to sleep. [[underline]]