their
share. After we met the remainder of our unit, which had just arrived
by the _Lotos_; they came overland to Marseilles, then by steamer.
They had all had the most delightful time, stopping at most of the
ports. We envied them after our ghastly journey. Dr. Dearmer and
several others of the party and I went into the town, then to St.
Nicholas, a church full of refugees--a sight I shall never forget;
each family had been allotted a corner, and they just sit on a mat.
One family was busy at lunch; they had one large bowl of soup in the
centre of the mat, and they all sat round; father, mother and three
children each had a spoon, and they all ate out of the same bowl. This
seems to be the custom in the poorer quarters in Greece and Serbia.
There were several little babies only a day or two old done up like
brown-paper parcels.
In the afternoon we went to see where Abdul Hamid was imprisoned. He
was allowed eighteen wives. He abdicated. The Germans threatened to
rescue him, so high walls were built all round so that aircraft could
not get near. After eighteen months he was told he might leave the
country, otherwise be shot, so he went to Asia Minor, and now the
house is used for military purposes.
Sunday, _April 18, 1915._
We had Communion Service, which Dr. Dearmer conducted at 8.30. Then
went to Turkish town, which is most interesting. We then went to the
Greek military prison. Then to the Turkish Church. Before entering the
church we had to remove our shoes; the floor was covered with squares
of carpet. In the afternoon we went to St. Demetrius and saw a
christening--most interesting. The priest first covered the baby,
which was naked, with oil--head, eyes, cheeks, ears, body, legs, feet,
back; then the mother poured a handful of oil over the baby's head.
Then the priest took the babe and put it into a font of oil and water
which completely covered it; then the baby was again crossed with oil,
using a brush this time and taking the oil out of a bottle; then the
babe was put into a piece of flannel into the mother's arms. She held
two candles, one in each hand, and the priest took incense, which he
swung backwards and forwards, and then went twice round the font. Then
he read and kissed the book, and the woman kissed it twice, and the
ceremony was finished.
We then went to the Greek cemetery, and saw where all the soldiers
were buried in the last war. The Turkish ce
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