[Note: the letter of May 15th, 1916, indicates that this letter was written from Kilindini Harbour, Mombasa, Kenya]
April 30/16
Dear Mother:
We are on African soil at last. Although we reached the place [note: writing changes from pen to pencil] (pen was so bad I couldnt use it) of our destination April 18th we did not come ashore to camp until yesterday That made us seven weeks and 4 days on the ship. Since we came into port here though we have had a good time. We went ashore to the beach every morning for a swim and last Sunday we were ashore all day having our dinner issued ashore. We had to help unload all our cars and other cargo off the ship so we had something to occupy our minds through the days of the week or more we were anchored in the harbor
There is not much to say about this country just now for I have not seen a great deal of it yet. Although this is winter now and in the rainy season the days are quite warm, in fact hotter than the hottest day at home. It rains here for a short time nearly every day, if not in the day, at night and when it does rain it comes down harder than it does in B.C. and thats going some. We have a good camp here however, a sandy soil that soaks all the water away very quickly. We live in tents but eat out doors under the trees so that the refuse or crumbs dont attract flies or other insects around the tents. Altogether it is a fair place for a camp as it is high and fairly dry. I dont know just how long we will be in camp here but I expect we will go to Narobi about 325 miles inland very soon. The country up there is much higher and a more suitable climate, not so warm. The town near here is old fashioned and not very large. Like all the towns in a hot country however it has to be kept clean on account of the fevers etc. (By the way I had another vaccination before I came ashore. The doctor said it wouldnt do any harm and perhaps some good on account of the fevers etc)
Well to keep on. The only street cars down here carry 4 passengers and are pushed along a narrow track for 3 or 4 miles by the natives who run alongside the tracks. Some system alright for cars. The railways are small using a narrow guage of track. The engines and freight cars are fairly large for the size of track but are not near as large as at home. The country is very different from at home having very large spreading trees which are loaded with native fruit and also palms of all kinds such as cocoanuts, pineapples etc also orange, lemon and banana trees in abundance. One thing I dont expect we will be short of fruit for a while. Well I think I better close for now and go to supper. I havent seen much to write about nor heard much. The sea trip was good and my health has been and is yet good so I expect to write again soon, perhaps then I will have more to say. I haven’t had any mail yet so I dont know what is going on at home. Well remember me to all my friends not forgetting Dad and all the kids so
Bye Bye with love to all
Harold
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