MARSEILLES TO SINGAPORE 13 



rather apprehensive-looking passenger. He is fol- 

 lowed closely by others, all clad in bath towels and 

 all looking equally apprehensive. They advance into 

 the open. The enemy, in the shape of the swabbing 

 crew, becomes aware of their presence ; it gathers 

 in close formation, the hose is levelled, there is a 

 swish of cold water, a few short gasps from startled 

 subalterns and then, oh, wonderful display ! no- 

 thing can be seen but hysterical passengers dash- 

 ing wildly about in the midst of a deluge of spray 

 and jets of foaming water, shrieking, gasping, and 

 spluttering. I know of no more effective method 

 for suddenly and conclusively dispelling any desire 

 on the part of the passenger to turn over and go 

 to sleep again. 



No one was sorry that our short stay in the harbor 

 of Aden prevented landing. Certainly a less invit- 

 ing-looking town, with its barren, rocky surround- 

 ings and total lack of vegetation, would be hard to 

 imagine. Passing the fortress of Perim and so 

 through the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, we dropped 

 anchor only long enough to transfer the India-bound 

 passengers to the Egypt, another of the five sister 

 ships, and steamed on almost immediately into the 

 Arabian Sea. How delicious that cool monsoon 

 breeze felt after the breathlessness of the last four 

 days! No wonder that the remaining passengers 



