Oct. 16, 1912

Still at Port Said. Got up on deck

early as the boat is very close. All

port holes are kept closed while in

port. Rather enjoyed watching the

 natives. They swam out to the boat to

beg for coins. The passengers threw

coins and they would dive and find

them. Annie and the MacLeans

went on shore. Annie got a long

gray ostrich boa, a kimona for me

some post cards and a few little

things. Left Port Side about noon.

Enjoyed the afternoon very much.

The Suez Canal was very interesting

and a change from the wide ocean.

It is only wide enough for boats to

pass so we were right near land

all the time. On one side as far

as we could see was nothing but

sandy desert relieved once in a 

while by a few arabs with their camels.

On the other side some trees had

been planted once in a while we

saw some houses and once we saw

a train pass on its way to Cairo.

Sat on deck all afternoon. After

dinner we went up on the upper deck.

It was moonlight and very pretty.

Sorry it got dark so early. We 

were tied up at nine P. M. while 

a boat passed us and again in

the morning.

Oct. 15, 1912

Have been feeling rather wretched
since leaving Marseilles but am
quite myself again. Reached
Port Said at five P. M. Went on
shore with Mrs. Reid. Took C.(Catherine)
and Jean Reid with us. Mongolia
anchored a few yards from wharf
so we went in in little rowboats
Port Said is a dirty place but
rather interesting. The shops are

very small. The owners stand

at the door or in the street trying

to coax people to buy. We got some

post cards and candy and I

bought a hand embroidered bag

as a souvenier. No twilight at

Port Said so we only had a very short

time on  shore. After dinner we

went up on the upper deck and watched

them (the natives) coal. They work very swiftly
yelled or sang all the time. The only
light was coal burning in braziers.
All the coal was carried in baskets on
their heads.