n, the
band playing them along to the Princess Cafe, where they were
entertained. The Mayor, the Commandant, Major Taylor, Mr. J.
Ellis Brown, and Mr. E. W. Evans received them. At the order of
the Commandant one khaki man sat between two white men, the
comrades of the warriors being dressed in their white ducks. At
the order of the Town Council Mr. Dunn had provided a most
substantial breakfast, to which the men did full justice.

The loyal toast having been duly honoured.

Colonel Morris proposed "Our Guests," and said he did not know
why the "villain of Durban" should be called upon to take up this
toast, or why the honour of proposing it had been conferred on
him. He begged to tell them, for the information of those fellows
who had just come down from the front, that he was the "villain
of Durban." (Laughter.) He meant that if any of these chaps were
out after 11 o'clock at night he would find for them nice
accommodation in the Superintendent's cells. There was a long
time between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., and he trusted they would not
get into trouble. The villain of the piece had to propose the
health of these fellows who had come down from the front.
(Cheers.) Now, these Navy fellows, if they could do so well on
land, how much better could they not do at sea? (Cheers.) They
knew how Jack had fought in the old days of Trafalgar, St.
Vincent, and at other great battles, and if they had to fight
again they might depend upon it that Jack the "handy man" was
just as good to-day as he was then. (Cheers.) Jack had proved
himself a splendid fellow ashore, and he wondered what any of
the landlubbers would do at sea. (Laughter.) The sea was a
ripping good place to look at, but from his point of view he
would rather be on land. (Laughter.) Anyway, Jack did not like
the land; he preferred to be on sea. Therefore, when at home on
the sea Jack would do a hundred times better than he had on
shore. (Cheers.) He recommended any people who thought of
fighting them on sea to take care what they were going against.
He did not believe that the British Navy was to be beaten here or
hereafter--(cheers)--and he was positively certain, from what he
saw of the Navy when they were at the front, that those who went
to look at them would say, "No, we will not play