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[Page 53]
outline of the African coast could just be distinguished, showing that we were approaching the exit from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea.
About 8 o'clock we were going through the straits, the lights of Perim showing clearly on the starboard bow: in the daytime land is also visible on the opposite side, but we could see no sign of it. Four vessels passed us, 2 of them being quite close & calling forth great cheering & cooeeing from the men. A third was a long way off & the fourth was a British cruiser said to be the "Minerva"(?) which is detailed to patrol these waters. I saw her flashlight going & she asked us our name, refusing to reply to our query as to who she was. Afterwards I learned that a warship at night can always be distinguished by the fact that her head-lights are immediately above her side-lights.
A glorious night, Venus & Jupiter being especially bright, & the moonlight shimmer on the waves very beautiful. Phosphorescent patches still abundant.
Ship's run to noon 388 miles.
Thursday 10 February 1916
A clear sunny day, the heat of the sun being tempered by a cool N breeze. A fair roll during the morning but very little motion later in the day.
When we woke a small island with a lighthouse on it was in sight a couple of miles to the N, & the sentry told me that we had passed 2 other island lighthouses during the early hours of the morning. About 8 o'clock we were abreast of another small island