( 72 ) 



138. The return trip occupied from 8-30 a.m. of 29th April to 6 p.m. 



of 30th of April. There was a marked 



weather 11 tlip ' an<i change in the cnan g e in tne weatner - Strong winds 



blew from the south-west accompanied 



by sand storms, the last we experienced, just before reaching 

 Mandalay, necessitated our stopping, for it was impossible to see a 

 yard ahead, this was followed by a shower of rain, which reduced 

 the temperature three degrees. From 6 a.m. till 6 p.m. the thermo- 

 meter averaged 95* 5F. One felt thankful there were no ladies on 

 board, and pyjamas and a thin shirt was the recognized costume, 

 excepting at meals. In place of hot-grog for a night-cap all our 

 ingenuity was employed to securing a cool " B." and " S.,"the great 

 pick-me-up of eastern climes ! Before closing this chapter I must 

 record my sense of gratitude to the commander of the Colonel Fytche 

 for the kind manner in which he afforded me every facility to gain 

 information, without in the least interfering with the interests of 

 the company. 



