NEW ZEALANDERS IN EGYPT.

Patea Mail, Volume XL, 20 March 1916, Page 2

NEW ZEALANDERS IN EGYPT.

Q.M.S. ROBBIES’ DIARY. (Continued).

Friday, 14th January 1916 Work as usual to-day, in the afternoon we had bayonet fighting with spring bayonets masks and pads; it was interesting work but very warm. Saurday 15 —The first examination musketry was held this morning. In the atfernoon wo went to Heliopolis to arrange about photos, saw some clever juggling and then went to the Aerodrome and saw one aeroplane assend and two descend their flight is beautiful. After tea went to the Kursaal to see a variety show, then .Some to bed. Sunday 16th—This morning after breakfast wo walked down to the old camp and collected our mail. Then we set out for Cairo and gafter lunch at Saults went to the zoo; the zoo is a fine one buir-thß animals, etc, are almost exclusive* African. The giraffes, rhinos and hippos were very specimens. We saw the two nontogß*a>. captured from the Turks at the canal j in February 1915; Some of the paths V are laid with different coloured stones ■ worked into a variety of patterns: they bad a tine effect; a native band was playing and afternoon tea could be procured—that is if time was of no consequence. I met Leo Butler, Geoff Parker, Tom Grant, Pegg, Roberts and McKay, all old friends of the Tofua days. Returning to Cairo we had tea at the Esbekiya (?) Gardens. ; Tlie stalls are run by New Zealand ladies and ( are very popular. We have gloriously tine nights here; the moon is at the full and the sky clear and starry and there is no wind. Our camp is circled witn lights which shine all round us and behind them are the lights of Heliopolis. The buildings in this land are all stone with flat roofs; the finest are very ornate with roomy balconies on every side and every story. The native quarters are miserable mud huts, low and roofed with maize stalks on bamboo on which the washing is dried and on which fowls and goats wander at pleasure; they are fearful dens to look at and the stink is abominable. On Saturday morning a train of at least three hundred camels passed through our camp. Monday 17— This afternoon we went into the desert to practice the attack.

Tuesday 18th— To-day five aeroplanes were overhead at one time. They fly very high and quickly; a little rain fell in the afternoon.

Wednesday 19th—No half holiday to-day—instead lesson on use or Mekometer aud knotting an splicing; the whole evening was devoted to ' study. The Australians work much harder at their hooks than we ever did in New Zealand.

Thursday 20th —Lady Godley’s Convalescent Home for New Zea landers stands opposite our parade ground; it is a two storeyed stone building in cream, flat sided aud flat topped and like all the other houses in this land it has outside shutters to seep out the sun. On the northern side is a wide verandah aud balcony; it stands in its own grounds surrounded by a lattice fence and a few dusty tiees of r the geucalyptns species; this is a treeless land, the ones most common are eucalypts, mimosas, tnd acacias; in the gardens the banyan is fairly common and there are others, the names of which I do not Know.

Friday 21—Examination in Company Drill began to-day: F Company is nnder orders to proceed to Ismailia; E Company and one officer and thirty other ranks of F Coy remain behind to form the basis of N.Z.R. B. Training Battalion. Liedfconant Branmmall has been appointed Q. M. S. for the training battalion. Saturday 22 Second musketry exam to-day; in afternoon went to Cairo by train; it was packed, passages, platforms, steps and all. The tickets are not collected? by the guard but given leaving the station. In Cairo we saw quite a number of funerals; one was in white with four horses |also |in white; anothar was in black and gold with six bay horses similarly caparisoned aud two lusty natives I with skirts girded np running "in advance The hearse was decorated with brilliant pmple flowers; another less pretentious funeral had no horses at all, the white hearse being carried by stalwart natives. We took a gharry and drove up a narow crowded street to the Egyptian bazaar; here may be found all sorts of wares and time and money are easily spent; there are no fixed prices, the customer driving the best bargain he can. On all sides you see native artists at work on beaten meal work, carpet weaving making sweets etc. Every thing in Cairo is done in Hull view of the crowd. You enter a hairdresser’s for a military clip or a shave; there is no retiring to an inner room, you ’ settle yourself in the front shop and the barber gets to work. When he has perfomed his part of the business a boy is handy to brush your clothes, then you fall a victim to another boy who polishes your boots. And such a shine the smallest and dirtiest urchin can put on a polish such as we never see in old New Zealand. Of course ‘ backsheesh ” is required. While returning from th e Bazaar in quite the busi est portion of a busy street we saw a cow and calf leisurely making their way along with as much calmness as any other pedestrian. We had dinner at the NewObelisk—some style— aud spent the evening among the silks and jewels of Cohen Bros.

Sunday 33rd—This morning at 10 we had ctiurch parade; there were no books so we sang “Rock of Ages ” and “ Jesus Lover of my Soul ” 'and, the National Anthem. The service was a very short one ; the sermon was on the meaning of “Be Strong ” and was ably dealt with, the padre bringing out some thoughts new to most. This afternoon Sergt Booth c md I went to see the Kasr-el Nile Bridge; the bridge is a solid one ffaufc there is nothing striking about it except the lions two of which sit on guard at each side; we walked through the public gardens on the western side of the river. Tue only flowers out were marigolds, phlox and petunias;. Then we had a look at the Egyptian museum where a large collection of mummies reminded one of the late Mark Twain’s weary remark “ Trot us out a nice fresh corpse.” At 5 p.xr. we saw a funeral with six horses and even more gorgeous than those of yesterday. The .mourners seemed a particularly gay crowd. After tea at the Eskebiah Gardens we went to All Saints Church in the Shari Bnlao. The church is a modest buiidiug of stone with tiled floor and fine stone pillars and pointed arches on the walls are many tablets of brass and 1 noticed one (not brass) to the memory of General Gordon, the hero of Khartoum. The major portion of the worshippers appeared to be soldiers and nurses.