why all the women in
Malta wear black, which seems to be commenced about the age of eleven
or twelve. Napoleon and his army had exercised great liberties with
their sex during a visit, and in consequence it was decreed by the
Pope that all women in Malta should go into mourning for the period of
a hundred years. This time is up but they seem to know that their mode
of dress is very becoming, and it looks as if the decree was to hold
good for all time.

It is impossible to go round the stair-like streets, which abound in
Malta, with a milk cart, hence you find all over the town a man or
boy with about half a dozen goats, shouting something or other, when
the women appear at their doors with jugs into which the men milk the
quantity required, as they sit on the doorstep. This is all very
quaint and picturesque, especially when combined with the bright
clothing of the men and children, the bright projecting upper windows,
and the altogether foreign and tropical appearance of the whole town
and island.

All the officers thoroughly enjoyed what was a new experience to most
of us, all returning to the boat laden with parcels, and being
unusually lively at dinner, and the wine flowing more freely than
usual among a body of men who rarely drink anything but water--and
very flat and unpleasant water it is too.

We left Malta at 6 p.m. _en route_ for Alexandria, as I am told by the
captain, who says it is no longer a secret. This is evidently to be
the place of concentration of the 29th Division. Another transport,
the "Kingstonia," left half an hour before us, amidst great cheering
from the warships and us. We too had a right royal send-off from all
the warships we passed, their decks being packed with cheering
multitudes, and our French friends of the morning played the National
Anthem again in the usual silence. We half expected it this time, but
its coming so unexpectedly in the morning made it most impressive.
Eleven powerful searchlights were playing at the entrance of this
important harbour--a harbour which must be one of Britain's greatest
assets. When thrown on us even a mile off the light was absolutely
dazzling.

_March 28th._--Churning all day through a sea of ultra-marine hue,
with a brilliant sun overhead and a fair breeze behind. We are now a
long way east of the longitude of Greenwich, the clock at noon
yesterday being seventy minutes before G.M.T. This means a daily loss
of sleep and consequently much sw