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[Page 173]
and as he afterwards told us had had one drink, and been relieved of 4 pound. Lots of men are complaining of being robbed or attempts to rob them. The city seems to be full of impudent scoundrels who are laying in wait for returning men, many of whom have the scars of dreadful wounds, fresh healed on them and are still a little dopey, from the effects of the chloroform, used in the operations and are likely to yield victims to these scamps. They stop at nothing from drugged cigarettes to murder. Why be so anxious to expatriate a few old Fritzs they can't do any harm now, agitation to have some of these scamps drowned would be better.
As a city Melbourne is well laid out, the streets are wide and well kept, though not as busy as Sydney nor are the buildings as fine. People who say it is the finest city in Australia haven't seen Adelaide or are biased. Adelaide is the finest city I have ever seen.
The Aquarium, and some other sights were unluckily closed on account of the 'flu'. The Exhibition building is a very fine one. The trams are very quaint and slow, being worked by cable, but are alright for sightseeing.
Before the boat left some of the boozers were returning on board. One shook the colonel by the hand and said, "Best colonel on the boat boys", as there was only one colonel on the boat the praise was a bit doubtful. Another of the tipsy ones fell in the water and felt no inclination to get out, and was got out with difficulty. They hoisted him on board like a bale of wet sacking.
On the 14th we arrived in Sydney harbor, and I am 21 today 14th February, quite a man eh! Next day I caught the train for home but things were not too bright there for there was a water famine and the country