82 FROM NEW YORK TO MOMBASA 



and the immediate care of Lieutenant-Commander Belknap, assisted 

 by other navy officers. Working under these were forty able sailors 

 and a number of stalwart American carpenters. "In addition," he 

 concluded, "there is a fine group of Americans, such as J. Elliott, Win- 

 throp Chandler, J. Bush and R. Hale, who are giving their time and 

 energies to help the philanthropic work. I wish to say that I consider 

 that the American people are deeply indebted to each and every one of 

 these men." 



Two days only were given to the sightseeing at Naples and Mes- 

 sina, with the arrival and departure, the Roosevelt party leaving on 

 the 6th in the steamer "Admiral," which was to carry them to Mom- 

 basa. A matter of some minor interest is that, while on board the 

 "Hamburg," an army surgeon presented him with a syringe filled with 

 an antivenom for snake poison. This was to guard him against pos- 

 sible perils more insidious than those likely to come from wild beasts. 

 How efficacious it would be apt to prove is another question. 



As may be seen. Colonel Roosevelt had lost little time so far in 

 sightseeing on land. He would have enough of shore experience on 

 reaching Africa; now straightforward to Mombasa was the cry. 

 From Naples the "Admiral" sped through the most historic waters of 

 the world, those of the eastern Mediterranean, the scene of the com- 

 merce and naval wars of Phoenicia, Greece, Carthage and Rome. 

 Passing Port Said and worming its way through the narrow channel 

 of the Suez Canal, it kept on down the Red Sea, famous principally 

 for its tropic heats. 



The only stop was made at Aden, at the extremity of Arabia, and 

 this a brief one. Thence the steamer plunged into the waters of the 

 Indian Ocean for its final goal at Mombasa. 



This final lap of the voyage lasted a week, its only interesting 

 incident being a dinner given by the captain of the "Admiral" to his 

 distinguished passenger, the table being finely decorated and speeches 

 and toasts being features of the occasion. 



Mombasa was reached on April 21, the total voyage having taken 

 rather less than a month. The "Admiral" entered Kilindin harbor in a 

 hea\y rain, almost a deluge, the water pouring in drenching floods. 

 The steamer flew the American flag at fore and main, which was 

 saluted by the British cruiser "Pandora," then Ivins: in the harbor. 



