Diary of Trooper Ion Llewellyn Idriess-1917-1918 - Part 9

drive. A few smart
rickshaws passed me
bearing each a brightly
dressed, black eyed black
haired daughters of wealthy
natives. I did not think
much of them. Some
English girls passed
us. one was very pretty.
She made my heart
beat double time. We
passed many ox drawn
waggons of cocoanut 
fibre, going to or from  a
cocoanut oil factory,
I suppose. Cocoanut
plantations, tea, tobacco,
seem to be the principal
wealth of Ceylon. The
natives all speak with
awe of the rich man
who owns  a cocoa
nut “garden” “Him verry
rich man.” As these natives 
talk in cents and it takes
something like 100 cents to
make a shilling you
can guess what millionaires
they reckon the
Australian soldiers are.
Then along trotted bored
looking oxen dragging
each a well built dog
cart, with a buck of
Colombo holding the
ribbons. The whip is
not spared, and the
sombre  faced little
bullock is continually
shaking his neck in
annoyment, at being
forced out of his
natural walk.
My last half hour

in Colombo was a grave
disappointment. I was
terribly thirsty. I called
at the Bristol hotel.
The place was closed.
I got down to the
wharf just in time
to join a Red Cross party
back to the ship. They
had been given an
afternoon tea at the
YMCA by the ladies
of Colombo, mostly the
officers  wives and 
daughters of the British
residents and officers
of the garrison, I believe.
They had had a
very pleasant afternoon,
and were well pleased
at the hospitality of
their hosts. 2nd
Instead of cumbersome
photography, why not
have a scouting plane
fitted with a moving
picture taker. Think
what it would mean to
the general, sitting at his
breakfast watching a
screen showing all the
enemys lines in detail
to him, their reserves
behind the hills, in
towns, etc etc.
The periscope,
The aeroplane gun sights
March. At sea again, and
the next stop will be
at the most beautiful
country in the world the
freest country, a country
truly worth dying for.

then forward with the uppercut.
Left to the body, Jump back,
then forward with right to the Jaw
[*1DRL 373 8/8*]
Cpl T. Robathon, Motor
Cyclist Signals, R.E
21st Amy Corps EET.
Reached from Sandon by the
G.E.R. via Bury St. Edmonds,
Address. A. Robathon Esq.
The Woodlands, Walsham-Le-Willows,
Bury St. Eds,
Gundle, Hastings River.
tin mining proposition
might be worth looking
into
The yarn of the ship that
lost itself. Got bushed.
Geo Smith 743.
Tinamba PO.

North Gippsland
Victoria