andant for
the poorest soldiers' small needs.

_Correspondence._--Prisoners may write as often as they like, but seldom
take advantage of the privilege, and as a rule receive few letters,
which take from 40 to 45 days in reaching them. Few money orders come to
the camp.

_Religion and Amusements._--The prisoners have every chance of
worshipping according to their own creed. The imaums can use a building
arranged as a mosque and lighted by electricity. There is one mosque
inside the camp enclosure.

The camp contains 40 musical instruments; a piano has been hired for
the officers.

The prisoners play football, tennis, cards and chess. Many amuse
themselves with reading.

~8. Bilbeis Camp.~

_(Visited on January 16, 1917.)_

Bilbeis Camp is situated 65 kilometres (40-1/2 miles) to the north-east
of Cairo, on the confines of the cultivated land of the Delta. Founded
in the month of August, 1916, it now contains 540 prisoners grouped as
follows:

_First Division._--One hundred and thirty-five Bedouins from the East
and the Sinai peninsula, and civilians coming from El Arish; 9 Arab
soldiers of the Ottoman army; 5 Turkish soldiers from Syria; 30
Egyptians.

_Second Division._--One hundred and seventy-five Senoussi and soldiers
from Tripoli; 185 Bedouins from the West, and civilian prisoners of
divers nationalities.

Among these prisoners are included several young boys who have relatives
among the interned. The characteristic of this camp is the diversity of
nationalities herein represented. Though the number of Turks is
restricted, we thought it wise to visit this camp in order to assure
ourselves that the treatment of the prisoners is the same as in other
Egyptian camps.

The camp commandant is Colonel Collins.

The camp is surrounded by a barbed wire fence.

The prisoners are lodged under canvas, 8 men to a tent. At the present
time two great barracks of timber framework and reeds are being erected,
each large enough to contain 250 men. Their dimensions ensure perfect
ventilation. The sandy soil shows no trace of damp. Between the tents
little gardens are laid out wherein, thanks to the abundant water, the
prisoners can grow flowers and vegetables.

The camp is lighted by paraffin reflector lamps.

_Bedding._--Mats of plaited rush. Two blankets per man.

_Exercise._--The dimensions of the camp leave large clear spaces where
the prisoners can walk at their pleasure.

_Food._--