Diary of Cyril Strahan Parry - Part 5

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like dogs, they will eat anything.  

Even search the rubbish tins for bits of

bread. It is time the British took the

country over, they have done a tremendous

lot for the poor people already, but now

they have full control, all this poverty

will vanish. From what we have
seen in Egypt of British Influence

we can understand why the natives
almost worship an Englishman ''Anglais''

December 24^th Thursday ( Christmas Eve)
Athol came in this evening & had

tea at our Mess. Afterwards I went

round town with him & had a look

at the sights, finally seeing him on

his tram at 10pm.  
December 25^th  Friday  (Christmas Day) 

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Today we have been taking things very

easy all day. We have decorated one of our

rooms with flags & are having Xmas

dinner in Grand Style. While we are

still at dinner Sgt. Reid who has been

at Mena all the morning arrived with
Australian Letters. Among which was 

one for me (from Home) & by a strange

Coincident was the first letter from

Home since leaving Austr (My Xmas Present)
December 26^th Sat. (Boxing Day)

Today we have been granted a half

holiday on account of the Territorial
sports held at Gizueh (across the river

from here) I did not see them however

but went to the Public Gardens near

the Sports Ground & also to the 

Government Acquarium.

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December 27^th (Sunday)
This morning visited Botannical Gardens
{?) at Gizerah. Very good they were, but one
could hardly apply the word "Botanical"
In the afternoon we went per Electric
Railway to Heliopolis. This is a 
European Suberb built in an Oasis  to
the North East of Cairo. The New
Zealanders are camped here. The streets
are very fine & also the Buildings
there are no Native Quarters here but is
just for Europeans. The electric trains
are very up to-date & run in the
streets as Trams & after Entering the 

Rly. Station run as trains.
January 1^st Friday (New Years Day).
A lot of joy-making in Cairo by the
Egyptians. Our holiday however 

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didn't start till 5 p.m.
January 2^nd  Saturday.
This afternoon we went per Tram to the
Citadelle, here we mounted donkeys andx
went through the City of the Dead & to
the Tombs of the Khalifs. from there, to the
we came along the Helwan Railway
Crossed the Big Sand-stone Quarries
& went up into the Hills to see a
fortress built by Napoleon. Later we
came back past the Citadelle &
Trammed Home. This evening Athol
is in so I went round Town with him.
January 3^rd Sunday.
This morning we went to the West
Bank of the Nile & into farming districts,
on our way home, we passed an Arab
Funeral coming into Cairo. The coffin

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was carried on the shoulders of six men &
was covered with a white cloth, in front
marched (walked?) the friends of the
deceased who were chanting his virtues 
in a wailing sort of voice, & behind
the procession were a crowd of folk on
donkeys, but whether they there out of
idle curiosity or not I don't know.
In the afternoon we went along the
Right Band of the River, crossed Rõda
Bridge & along Rõda Island till we 
reached the Tram Route to Mena, then 
we went back to the Right Bank over
the Malek & Saleh Bridge & followed
the River southwards through old
Cairo till we came to a landing place
where scores of ships (natives) were
drawn up alongside to unload all 

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sorts of grain which was weighed in
small places like Sentry Boxes then
placed in Stores (which we presume
were something like in the line of
Bond Stores) Then we went some
distance till in the direction of Cairo
till we came to a Small Railway Station
(St. Georges) on the Helwan Line. Here we
were shown over to Coptic Churches by a
Student from the Coptic College in Cairo
(By name Kheir Shenoudah) He was
very good to us &^as he could speak go English
was of great value to us. We first went
into Moullaqua Church which was very
fine. (but small). Then to another small
Church & finally into St.Georges Church.
In all three there were 3 altars in one
corresponding to the 3 Gods in one &

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as theirs is a Christian Religion I can
see no difference to Church of England
(other than the Head of the Church) The
Altars & other decorations were made of
Cedar inlaid with Ivory & Ebony.
Everywhere were old oil paintings of
Saint George & the dragon. St. George's
Church is so called  because of a legend.
In a part of the Church (screened off)
is a beautifully decorated Cabinet
inside of which is a silk package
Our Friend Kheir told us this contained 
a portion of the Arm of St. George
& people who were sick or had not had
their wish or gained some object came
& prayed & offered a gift if their wish
were granted. At the same time
tearing off a piece of their garment &  

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tieing it on the doors of the Cabinet (By
the way, there was a great collection of
rags there when we visited it) We saw
the silk package but they wouldn't
shew us the piece of the Arm. We also 
saw the Coptic Gospel written in Coptic
(very like Greek) & also in Arabic. One
was on either side of the Aisle. There
were very few seats so presume the
congregation had to stand or bring a
seat with them. We finally said 
goodbye to our Friends, & caught the
nearest Tram & arrived in Barrack 6.30 pm
January 9^th  Saturday.
Visited during the afternoon the
Eastern portion of Cairo, went into a 
very large Mosque where were sheltered
Turkish & Algerian Refugees.

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These people are very poor & for 1 Piastre
(2 ½^d) they receive shelter & three meals
per day. They were sitting about in the 
Mosque in groups reading aloud.
January 10^th Sunday.
Went to North Cairo into farming districts &
Suberbs. Very much the same as the
rest of the City, narrow streets & Arabs.
January 23^rd Saturday.
Ordered to go to Alexandria on Duty for 
about a week to meet ships bringing
reinforcement for 1^st Division. Duty is
to take our Balances of Money for Pay
of Troops on Board the Transports.
Expect to go about Tuesday week next.
Saturday 30^th   January 1915.
Left Cairo at 12 noon for Alexandria. 6m
the way down we had lunch in one of 

77.
the fine dining cars & arrived at 3pm.

We went down to the docks in a Carriage

but found the Transports did not arrive

till the following day so we went back

to the City & stayed the night at the Hotel

Regina, (this is  right at the sea Edge)

During the evening had a good look

round the City.

Sunday January 31^st 1915.

Went per Tram to Sam Stephano a

suburb of Alexandria & found it very 

interesting. After lunch we went to the

docks & were just in time to see the first

ship arrive alongside The "Themistoeles" 

with Reinforcements. We had tea & 

slept on her that night.

Monday 1^st February

After breakfast we went on Board the

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Sueire & had lunch there the Seyto Mess

was rather rough as horses were being

walked through it as unloading was in

full swing. That night we slept on the

"Persic" She is a very poor class of a

boat & very old and dirty.

Tuesday Wednesday 3^rd Feby.

For the night we were quartered on the

"Ceramic" & have a very fine Mess & fine

Cabin so went to bed early (wrote to I.V)

in order to get a good nights rest.

Thursday 4^th Feby.

S.S. Cowling & I stayed the night at the

"Regina" while Major Farr slept on 

the A.42 (a German Prize).

Tuesday 2^nd Feby.

For the night we were quartered on the

"Berrima" She also was in an awful 

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condition & very glad we were to get off her.
Friday 5^th  Feby.
Arrived at the docks at 8.30 a.m when I
was sent on to the "Ceramic" to collect some
money & signed rolls we had to leave. the
previous night. The ship drew away
from the pier before I was finished
so got a bit of a shock when I came on
deck. However I was able to go off in the
Pilot Boat near the Heads. It was
mighty awkward going down the side
on a rope ladder in a choppy sea &
the ship under way & a strong wind.
And in addition being encumbered
with a Great Coat & Bags of Cash &
Acquittance Rolls. I got into a small 
Boat & was afterwards transferred
to a Motor Launch & landed about

80
2 miles from where I had left, so had to

go back in a cab, to find Major Farr

quite satisfied that I had gone on to

England. The last ship was then just

coming alongside so we soon fixed

her up, then drove up to the Anglo

Egyptian Bank, gathered all our

spoils from the strong room & caught 

the Mid-day express for Cairo w^here

we arrived at 3 p.m. Practically

the whole of the time we were in 

Alexandria it rained so did not have

quite as good a time as we might

have had. On account of the wet we

could not do much with the Camera,

but Exposed 12 films as am anxious

to know the results. Alexandria

is much smaller than Cairo, but is 

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very busy & has a great many  more

Europeans

Feby 13^th 1915

Reinforcements (Temporary) arrived

from Second Force & took up duty in

the Pay Corps.

Feby 25^th 1915

Left Kasr-el-Nil Barracks & were

Billeted on the top floor (4^th) of the

National Residence, - we have to sleep on

"Biscuits" on the floor whith four

blankets so are pretty comfortable.

We have our meals (by a special

arrangement) at the Viela National a 

few minites walk from here. But very 

poor food (Eggs & Macaroni) & lazy waiters

27^th February.

Went by Tram to Abbassieh & then

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walked across to Heliopolis & returned

per Electric Railway, on the way we

saw Native Irrigation work (Photo
No 86) These are worked by Oxen & 
the water is drawn from Canals 
fed from the Nile.

28^th Feby 1915

Visited Mena Camp on Sunday. afternoon

& saw Athol, Guy Briggs, Charlie Lee &

also many old friends from the 10^th & 

12^th Battalions. This afternoon about

5pm. the 9^th 10^th 11^th & 12^th Battalions

moved out of Mena Camp &  Entrained

for Alexandria & thence by Transports

to a destination not at present

known presumably Asia Minor. I

managed to get some snapshops of we

"Four Cousins" before we all parted 

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(Nos 88 - 89 - 90) Returned to Cairo just in

time for Tea. Athol expects to be moving

off any day now so said "Good-bye" to him.

1^st March 1915 (Monday)

Athol managed to get leave tonight so

came in & had tea with us at the Viela 
National. Then after work he came 
round to our Quarters & I gave him an 

extra supply of Underclothing etc, so

don't know how he will get it all in his

kit Bag & it is just as well he

doesn't have to carry it.

6^th March (Saturday).

S.S Lloyd & I went out to Mena & had

a good look round the Sphinx and

Pyramids (Photo 91) Then we started

to go up the summit of the Great Pyramid

Our Guide was a very old chap & we

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were very doubtful about taking him

up, but he eventually proved himself

a good deal more active than us.

He said he had been a Guide for

over 40 years. Half way up we rested

 & I took a picture of Mena Village at

the foot (Photo 92) showing the Shadow 

of the Great Pyramid over it. Dick Lloyd

also took one for me of myself & our

Guide (Photo 93) on the Edge of the

Pyramid, & showing in the Background 
the Mena Avenue along

which run the Trams to the Pyramids.

This road is one of the first I have ever

seen & was built by in Napoleon's

days (It is said in 14 days) This Great

Pyramid is 471 high above the level

of the Surrounding Sands. Just near 

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the Foot is the ancient City of Mena

that is now being excavated by

Americans. And also the remains

of the old causeway along which the 

stones were brought from the Nile to build

the Pyramids. When we reached the

Sumit we found an Arab supplying 
hot Coffee So "We didn't if we did - also 
our Guide" There we took several more

photographs of the surrounding country

& the Camp at the foot. After descending

had tea at Mena Cafe' &

returned into Cairo about dusk, very

dusty & a bit on the tired side.

7^th March Sunday

Visited Mena Camp to see Athol & found

him doing Guard so we sat in the Sand

under the shadow of a gun carriage

till it was time to go home. All the guns

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& vehicles are in Camp have been painted

weird colour, daubed all ove with

Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, brown & 

black, as a Protection against Air

Craft. All the guns have an extra

shield on them & have rope wound

round the Cylinders. Everything

seems to be doing & all are looking

forward to moving off very soon. As

they say they have been too long in

Cairo now.

13^th March Saturday

This afternoon we went by Tram to 

Saida Jenab & had a general look

round. These are Native Qos & of 

course are very interesting. There are

rows of quaint small shops where

are sold everything & anything.  

87

In some are fowls running about the floor

with an Arab woman sitting on the floor

minding them. In another a Native 

making Brassware, another repairing

beautiful carpets, another weaving silk

another cotton. Then there are small 

Cafe's where Egyptians are smoking large

pipes & drinking coffee. Then shops where

Fez's are sold & repaired. These native

shops are very small but very curious,

& very dirty. Photo 87 shows a Brassware 
shop where can be seen Natives

carving weird patterns on the Articles

with chisels. Native laundreys are 

very curious as instead of working

on the table they iron on the floor

& use the iron with their feet. It is of 

a different shaped iron to what we