214 WAR: CAMPAIGNING IN EAST AFRICA 



the coast, we joined up with Colonel Rose's 

 column which had lately left Pemba. There, to 

 my pleasure, I met Lewis, who had just returned 

 from a trip to Australia on sick leave, and I 

 revelled in comfort after the fortnight or more of 

 nigger food and no stores. At such times we 

 undoubtedly learn to appreciate the common, 

 homely things — soap, a towel, a spoon, and a 

 blanket, for instance — and to enjoy to the full the 

 luxury of a looking-glass, nail-scissors, and a tooth- 

 brush. 



From Ankuabi I had to go straight away down 

 to Pemba (called by the Portuguese Port Amelia), 

 to report to the Commander-in-Chief and General 

 Sheppard, who were there at that time on an 

 auxiliary cruiser. I by no means underestimated 

 what was likely to be before us in this new cam- 

 paign in Portuguese E.A., for I told the Chief of 

 the Staff that though it might appear a very small 

 German force that had come across the Rovuma, 

 yet I felt sure it would prove a very strong one 

 and very troublesome. 



