VIII 



MOMBASA 



A SINGLE light shone at the end of the stone 

 quai, and another inside a big indeterminate 

 building at some distance. We stumbled toward 

 this, and found it to be the biggest shed ever con- 

 structed out of corrugated iron. A bearded Sikh 

 stood on guard at its open entrance. He let any one 

 and every one enter, with never a flicker of his 

 expressionless black eyes; but allowed no one to go 

 out again without the closest scrutiny for dutiable 

 articles that lacked the blue customs paster. We 

 entered. The place was vast and barnlike and dim, 

 and very, very hot. A half-dozen East Indians stood 

 behind the counters; another, a babu, sat at a little 

 desk ready to give his clerical attention to what might 

 be required. We saw no European ; but next morning 

 found that one passed his daylight hours in this in- 

 ferno of heat. For the moment we let our main bag- 

 gage go, and occupied ourselves only with getting 

 through our smaller effects. This accomplished, we 

 stepped out past the Sikh into the grateful night. 



59 



