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[Page 24]
the sunset. At last, at exactly 7 o'clock, the order was given to advance. Up the gangway we went & proceeded to descent to out troop deck; but the proceeding part of it was as far as we got. The men went down very gingerly, a few at a time, & came back very fast in a bunch. Even now when I think of it, I can feel the bite of those fumes in my lungs. That night the men ate & slept on deck.
Our stay was fairly prolonged, but I think the men appreciated the daily route marches. The inhabitants were so kind & generous; & all along the route fruit cigarettes & even books were showering into the column. There was only one fly in the ointment. Nobody could get leave.
About five days after our arrival, we went for a march through the city itself & I was given permission to break off for an hour & a half to see the sights. Mr. Conway was with me, & when we had satisfied the inner man, we hired a cab taxi & saw what we could which was not very much. That march seems to have put the finishing touch on things, & during the evening several men broke ship.
The following day three separate rushes were made past the guard; & altogether about 150 men got into