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[Page 21]
It is fine to sight land after being a number of days away from it. Any rumour to the effect that land is in sight causes a great flutter of excitment and binoculars are produced. We were sailing into harbour just as the sun was setting. Away on the horizon we could see a ship outlined against the setting sun and it made an enchanting scene.
If there had been nothing else the yap, yap of the native boatmen who came along side the ship would have told us that we were in a foreign port.
We had not been in port more than a few minutes before the natives began to beg money etc. from us.
Newspapers of the 24th Dec. were being sold by natives on board the ship at 6p each. They contained startling news to us. One of the reports was that a raid had been made on England by the German Navy. Scarborough, Whitby and Hartlepool being the affected towns.
Felt quite lost owing to the lack of authentic news of the war.
Dec 27th Sun.
Had leave to go over to Colombo. This we did in small boats rowed by natives.
Went to the British India Hotel and had some light refreshments. We drove around the principal