Item 01: R. T. Vowles diary, 22 August 1915-23 February 1916 - Page 100
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[Page 100]
Everything in the form of ale has to be paid for on the spot, when the waiter buys it over the bar. When buying goods that one really wants the ;procedure is thus. Ask the price & if too much offer less but if he does not agree take it by force & then give him your price, & walk away . He will follow & try to get it, simply turn round & take your money back too. He will then take the money rather than lose both. Otherwise threaten to throw it down & smash it to bits. He soon agrees to any price.
Just outside the inner harbour of Colombo lies a wrecked steamer of no small size lying right over on her side.
The natives were very fond of singing for money. Their songs were Ta – ra-_ra – boom- de- ay & it's a long way to Tipperary – both accompanied by a jig & acrobatic steps.
The method of coaling is slow but sure . Old barges come alongside with bags of coal. These are picked up & passed by groups of Awo natives along the barge &up stages on the side of the boat & so on to the bunkers. The breakwater is a great
NB Continued on page 55 & onwards