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[Page 172]
thing in common, for we used to comfort one another with the fact that we'd have a long spell in Blighty, before going out to France again. He was known as a fearless expounder of his views. His father had been a drunkard, and poor little Tassy had suffered in consequence, and his fearlessness on his views were only equal to his hatred of drink. He'd argue half the night on the subject underneath one's hammock, and one does want to sleep on board ship sometimes. I can see Tassy on an Apple farm in the island state someday.
Doctor M-of Sidcup left us here. He served in the army as a private soldier till he went deaf, when he took up his rank in the army and was sent to Sidcup the most wonderful facial hospital in the world. It was no exaggeration to say, he was loved by everyone in Sidcup who came into contact with him. My experience of doctors is that barring a few skinflints they are widely humane men, with a good clear understanding of human nature unmarred by bias. After the victorians were off, we were allowed ashore. I took the train to Melbourne from the Port and went up the main street and then round to the Botanic gardens which are very pretty but not as extensive or as good as the one in Sydney. I saw the Yarra, I have heard people say it smelt but I couldnt smell it and there are no flies on my nose. I went down Spencers St and back to Collins St and took a tram for the zoo. Halfway to the zoo one boards a horse drawn tram the first I have seen. They have I think a larger collection of savage beasts than Adelaide but for living places for birds and animals and for variety of collection Adelaide zoo holds the palm. Being tired of seeing my long lost relatives the monks I went back and took the tram out to Northcote. It was getting late when I returned, so I caught the train to Port Melbourne. On the station at Port Melbourne was one of our men drugged. I and an artillery man practically dragged him back to the ship he had ben drugged.