PC_256_Poe_1910_1911_Typescript_050

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and children aboard, in thinking of the folks at home and of
past Christmases, and in reading Rousseau's "Confessions".

December 26th.
Unusual life aboard steamer. Interested in hearing fellow-
passengers talk of big profits in cocoanut and rubber plan-
tations. Judge Evans says the Chinese in the Philippines pay
one peso (50 cents) a tree per year for the cocoanuts--and an
enormous number can be planted on an acre. Many Europeans
have cocoanut plantations and live handsomely from the income,
having no trouble except to have the trees counted occasion-
ally. The chief engineer talked interestingly of a trip to
the Fijis. The natives, he says, are dying out. The change of
diet (they can't eat one another any longer) doesn't seem to
agree with them. A jolly game of shuffleboard late this after-
noon.

December 27th.
Arrived in Rangoon about 1 o'clock. Interviewed Thomas Cook,
went about town somewhat and in the later afternoon went with
Judge Evans to see the marvelous Shwe Dagon Pagoda. It amazed
us. For gorgeousness of coloring it hardly has an equal on
the earth, the colored glass mosaic work for which it is distin-
guished glistening in the sunlight like the gems of another
Aladdin's palace.

December 28th.
Got up early and went with Mr. E. Hildebrand and Shobinger to
see the elephants work. [crossed out phrase] It was better than a circus and we
enjoyed it immensely. Got caught on the ship when it was taken
out in the river and had to wait two hours longer than I