LETTERS FROM EGYPT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16405, 9 June 1915, Page 7

LETTERS FROM EGYPT.

WITH THE THIRD REINFORCEMENTS.

Corporal J. G. Adair, of the Third Reinforcements, has been giving in his homo letters very cheerful accounts oi the voyago over to Alexandria, and of the treatment ttta men are receiving. Tne voyage was an uneventful one, tne chief incidents being the i calls at Albany and Colombo, and the passing of the Kinden. 'Writing under date March 5, he says:—Our dinner to-day consisted of roast pork and apple sauca, potatoes, and plum pudding, so you see our lace is all ot ttits best, and one would needto be a great grumbler, indeed, to complain. That part is supervised by the chief steward, and if there are any oomplainte there is trouble for the cooks. After dinner all and sundry were -vaccinated. Ad for myself, I did not feel the operation in the slightest, but I suppose, in a day or so, Stay have a ditferent tale to telL f.

Writing from Zeifcun camp on Sunday; April 4, he says:—We arrived in Suez on March 26, after a splendid "voyage from Colombo. We were entrained at 11 pjn. for our destination, where we arrived at 6 ajn. The camp is about seven from Cairo, and is very large, including Ann. fcr&lians, New Zealand ere, Ceylon Maoris Regulars and others, numbering thousands. At night we visited Cairo, which is just as represented—a vile town, whole streets and Bouses which should be removed. We, saw and heard much that disgusted us.. Cairo has some Yery fine buildings, but I did not have time at my disposal for looking around maeh.

This morning after church all the Port boys, or as many as could be present at the time, had their photographs taken, with Bauchop in the centre. Over 50 were present, so you see Port Chalmers has done its share. We are all fit and well, and keen to be up and doing. We are now attached to the 4th Regiment, and ara daily expecting to get away. In any oasa, it is yery likely that wo will soon be. in the thick of it, and doing our bit for the Old Land and flag. I am hoping soon to get a near view of the Pyramids. We won't be sorry to get out of this, as its just pure desert, and when it is blowing it is very uncomfortable indeed, but I daresay we might get worse yet. If so. we will stand up to it. All our colonials are very keen, and are • sure to givo a good account of themselves wherever they may be. ■ ! April 10. —In my last letter I said I thought I might be away with the main body, but I am very sorry to hare to tell you that I must stay until the Third Reinforcements are required. We are disappointed, but 'tis a sad heart that never rejoices, so they say. We are putting in some good training, marching tjiree or four hours' daily, so we should be regular walking machines in a. week or two. It is how getting very hot, but Egypt so far is agreeing with me. For a few days we found the walking through the sand up to the ankles mostly very hard on us, but we are now about accustomed to it. Our marches, are . mostly through the towns m the vicinity 6i the camp—Zeitun, Heliopolis, and sometimes almost to Cairo. We see some very fine palaces and places. Heliopolis is one of the finest places one could possibly dreatta of seeing. The buildings are particularly' fine." Most of the streets near the tofrns are ■ lined with trees, and it is all very beautiful, the flowers and creepers being specially so. one of which-is glorious—a mass of dark / ■red flowers, some of the trees being very large. The irrigation has done wonders for the country, the crops being nearly equal to those I have seen in New Zealand, but tho system of working the ground is just the same now as it was in the time of the Pharoahs. The natives are a lazy lot, but very intelligent, but the children aro not fine specimens of childhood.. their eyes, nostrik. and sometimes their mouths, being a mass of flies, which seem very mu£h at home. Sir lan Hamilton reviewed us all ' lately, and expressed himself well pleased ".vith all. I must say tho "Tommies" that are here arc dwarfs alongside the colonials. There are lots of temptations here for a young fellow, but its not at all hard to keep avyay from them. All leave is stopped at present owine to a disturbance that took place, but directly it is granted again wo int.-nd going to the Pyramids and tho Citadel.