Malinda K. Miller Diary

82 It seems I'm to go to Mandalay instead of Prome; I believe I prefer the latter.

March 23, 1922 – Thursday In school all day; Miss T. didn't come this aft. We didn't hear about the house yes., but did today – nothing doing, so I'll have to write Mrs. C. Mr. Ah Son has suggested my having my bag blackened [blackened] – it does need it & no mistake. Mrs. E. left at noon today. Mr. Cochrane, who is hard of hearin [hearing], has also gone back to Maymyo. Had naps both yes. & today at noon; most unusual for me, but so are late hours. Got the second vol. of "The Silken East" but haven't begun it yet. The Heptonstalls came yes; was glad to see them again; they are with the Seagraves. Still no chance to pack, write letters, etc. I got about a dozen on the English mail this wk., & 4 I.J. which is more than usual, but I got none last. Cousin Jim sent me another Lit. Digest, the special France number. Mrs. Craig was here this morn – brought a lovely lunch for Mrs E.. who got her breakfast at the burra station before leaving. I have a lot to do before leaving for Meiktila; had hoped to get off tomorrow night or Sat at latest; no chance now, however, till after the first of the week. The candy is gone; I passed it to everyone who came in, & that was a good many on Tues., and since; but I enjoyed it while it lasted & being able to share it. Mr. Weeks left yes. Mr. Dudley also; the former thought he "lost" some money, but he raised a rumpus & it was "found" later; the latter had the same experience the last time he was down. Washed hose and handkerchiefs, & darned the former when dry. I've got a breaking out on my back which itches considerably – Miss

83 P. had a look at it this eve; it has been there several days.

March 24, 1922 – Friday She got her new teeth this aft. Miss Campbell over a little while this aft. We've been meeting in one of the classrooms in Vinton Memorial Chapel Annex while all the Coms. were in session, but back at our old stamping ground yes. & this a.m. Yes. aft. there tho, on acc't of the company at Seagraves. I gave Saya my bag this a.m. to have polished & he had it back this p.m. when I came to tea. It poured down rain for a couple of hours; not only that, but hailed also. Miss P. was dubious about getting off to the station, but it stopped in time for that – thank goodness! I feel mean about saying [saying] these things, but if she had only have gone in another room she could have had one all to herself [herself] after the first day or so, when so many were here for the Com. She & Miss P each had a gharry & the Misses B., P. & T., all went down with them. Mr Darrow, Miss Geis, Mr & Mrs Whitnal, & Mr. Moffitt, the Amer. Consul, all went to Moulmein this eve; Mr. A. was down to see them off; that seems to be one of his chief duties at present; I expected to go to the deaf school to tea, but changed my mind after the downpour. Dr. Kelly took me to the York Road library [library] after tea; he told me a day or so ago that he would – but couldn't go that afternoon. We remained [remained] about an hr; after looking over the rules and regulations [regulations], and a cursory survey of the book stocks I went into the reading room and after preliminary [preliminary] saunter settled down to reading about the wedding of the Princess Mary. We came back then went out again; I to return the 2 books from the

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Col. library to Mrs. Howard, as Mrs Jury has gone & he to see his Lanmadaw Burmese preacher, but failed to do so. After dinner he killed a big black scorpion which invaded the dining room – the first I had seen; it looked as big as my hand & showed fight; I climbed on a chair.

March 25, 1922 – Saturday Slept late this a.m.; then expected to leave for town early, but Ma Sein Tha, with Ma Thurait & China came with a note from Miss C. before I got off. Then I walked down, taking two rolls of pictures on the way; was surrounded by a group of Indians near the railway who were much interested in my kodak. Went first to de Souza's to get my & Miss D's prints & films; then to the press where I purchased 2 more copies each of the Shwe Dagon & John; returned Miss P's typewriter ribbon she left with me; thence to Whiteaways to get shoestrings for Miss D. While turning in my $56.52 at R 3.52 Miss S. came along & said that as the Ref. Com. hadn't voted on my case, it, and several others would have to be settled by correspondence. I had two cries on Tues. – and I'm not given to weeping either – perhaps I might just as well have saved my tears! I wrote to the 2 Miss D's yes., so hurried & wrote to them again after this interesting bit of information. Went to Mrs Cowasjee's to tea again this aft.; dressed to play tennis this time and had a 5 to 6 set against Mr. C; my partner was young and active, fortunately, as he had most of the playing to do. Afterwards I sat in the billiard room while waiting for the motor; I went out with the first load & in with the last! Was late

85 for dinner, but Mr. A. was later. Dr. K. had fin ished [finished]; only we 3 left

March 26, 1822 – Sunday Miss Bebee came late last eve but I didn't see her till this a.m.; she is on her way to Sandoway, but has to see the dentist and do some shopping in the meantime. I didn't have chota till about 8 when I had the pleasure (?) of Mr. A's company. Wrote and read all morn till breakfast; took a nap of about an hr. but the mosquitoes were so bad that I didn't have much peace; read again – on "The S. East" – bathed, dressed, and went to tea; returning I had a little chat with Dr. K. Read for about half an hr. longer, then went to Immanuel B. Ch. with Miss B. where she saw Miss Hunt, whom she had already [already] inquired about. They took up an extra collection to help send sixteen young people to the Maymyo Bible Assembly from the 1st to the 10th of April; they needed R100 & got R95/12 with some more coming. We were each given a copy of "The Life that Wins" by Charles Gallandet Trumbull, a Presbyterian, which I read before going to bed, first finishing my book, turning in about 10:30. Did n't [didn't] get any letters written, as I had planned. Miss B. came to my room awhile after dinner; she brought some kodak prints and looked at my new Montgomery Ward catalogue – I haven't had time to look at it myself. Had a letter from Miss Parrott yes. welcoming me to Mandalay; she may be somewhat previous – as was I.

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March 27, 1922 – Monday Breakfast at a quarter of 8 this morn; Mr. R. came down after I did, but I left him – had too many things to do to waste valuable time today, but alas! not the half did I get done. First I did some writing which I had neglected; then I got off 3 letters and a doz. post-cards for America; then after bathing & dressing I went to the press for money, stamps, my Eng-Bur., & Bur-Eng. dictionaries, B. Bible. etc. While there Mr. Swinnerton-Weston came in, & as he departed he asked me to have strawberries & cream with wine, an invitation I accepted, to the deep disgust of the coolies who was carrying my bundles. After an hr. spent with him (he has been a great traveler), I took the train back to the G. H as it was then too late to stop by Mr. Hein Si's as I had intended, more especially when burdened with these big dictionaries. Miss B. in my room again last eve, telling of her battle with bed bugs; I hope I won't have to go thru a similar experience – but I probably will if I go to certain stations. Miss A. arrived about 11 p.m. but I won't see her till morn A letter arrived for Miss D. which I've redirected & will mail with a card to Miss Parrott in the a.m. Read a dialogue in "Half of the Battle in Burmese"; also trimmed and glued a few snapshots in my kodak album in the aft. & eve – but it is slow work. Have already counted up a doz. things I have to do tomorrow.

87 March 28, 1922 – Tuesday Finished Miss C's book; pasted some more kodak pictures in my album. After break walked to Commissioner Road & returned Mr H. S's book. Then to the jail sale room, which was open, for prices of chairs, etc; on to the Bernard Free Library [Library] to return "Asoba", taking 3 or 4 snapshots along the way. Here I took a rickshaw to the burra (big) station where I bought my ticket and made my reservation for tomorrow eve. Took another at Phayre St, to the press where I got more money, 40 postcards, arranged about the transfer of my baggage with Mr. P., etc. Forgot to get envelopes, such a nuisance. Miss A brought up 3 letters from home this p.m.; no papers; perhaps they'll come tomorrow. Misses Lucas, Rainey and Eastman arrived shortly before breakfast; the former, with Misses A. & B. got on the boat this eve after dinner, altho' it does not sail till morning. We had lovely strawberries [strawberries] for tea, Miss R.'s treat; and shortcake for dinner, I suppose from the same source; also two kinds of cake. I only sampled one, however. At b. we had some tamarind juice, which was my first experience. Went to Mrs. Pattle's before dinner to return her bird book; took her the brown em. handkerchief. Had a note from Mr. Furnival, who is in camp, explaining his seeming negligence about my "tea". Wrote two cards and a letter to Jimmy – who is in the hospital at Pendleton [Pendleton] – in answer to my mail. Want to get as many things off from here as possible. Heard nothing from Mrs. Grove. Must see Miss C [page damaged] [along right edge of page:] Pd. my room rent

88 March 29, 1922 – Wednesday I got to bed at 2.a.m., slaughtered a lot of roaches in the process of packing. The dhoby came this a. m. before I was dressed, so he had a good long wait. Have written a card to Jania Duncan who is now in S.C.; got her address through Miss Florence T. Went to Mrs Grove's on my way to Miss Chapman where I had breakfast – unexpectedly – they were eating early in order to go to town. Then to the teak yard to deliver Miss D's photos & get some additional pictures of the elephants. Then to the G. House more where I finished packing – putting away clean clothes as I'd had them out sunning – none too soon as they came early for my things; wasn't expecting them till 2 o'clock. Paid my bill, but forgot to write down my room rent – R14 – so after I got to the press on my way to the station I had to phone back to Miss Rainey asking her to do it for me, as that is my only receipt and Mrs Wyatt's only record. After early tea, the gharry also came early, so as there was nothing to hold me, I went at once, after giving small tips around. Stopped 1st at de Souza's about films; then the press for envelopes & to see if my two boxes of books had been delivered o.k.; then to the burra station where I had to have my two trunks weighed & pay R10/8 excess baggage. Mr A. came down. I couldn't find Dr. K to tell him goodbye. Was in the carriage with a Mrs. Hare, I fear a S.D. [page damaged] two children & Karen nurse. Had dinner at Pegu

89 as did Mr. Currier, who was on the same train.

March 30, 1922- Thursday The Heptonstalls got on at Tougoo [Toungoo] but I didn't see them till this a.m. Didn't get up till about 7 this a.m. ate for chota the two bananas & the brown bread & butter sandwiches I brought with me. Sayas Ba Myint and Po Lu were at Thazi to meet me. I had my 2 trunks 3 suitcases duffle bag, typewriter & steamer chair stored there, bringing only suitcase, my umbrellas, ink bottle to Meiktila with me. The school bus was at the train and Miss D. met me on the steps. She talked a blue streak at first; we soon had breakfast and later repaired to her room where she had two big trunks and boxes packed, put anther of the former & 2 of the latter, a bag, suitcase, etc, yet to do. After a great deal more talk on both sides I took a nap on the cot, while she packed and also rested. She was first planning to go tomorrow at 7 a.m. but I don't see how she could have possibly gotten off, so at my suggestion she decided to wait till Sat. morn. After a bath & tea we had a drive to the left of the lake among the military; got drinking water up there as we returned, iced soda & lemonades down town. The school trap was our vehicle this time; we came back by the Gymkhana Club, which has a very pretty situation near the lake. After dinner we read some in Kipling's "Plain Tales from the Fields." & then to bed. Before the evening meal, however, we went to the houses of the teachers and preacher living in the compound for a brief call; we only sat down at the first one; we had the lantern along as it was dark. There are some ruined pagodas on this compound, too, as there are at Mandalay. Everything

90 dry and brown, dusty and bare.

March 31, 1922 – Friday We did not get up till 7 this a.m. After dressing leisurely & breakfasting, we went to the 5-day bazaar held nearby. I took half a dozen snapshots, my kodak causing the usual amount of interest, & bought 2 small glass bracelets, one of which I put on my umbrella & the other I can use for a napkin ring. Miss D. bought some nails & a couple of bael fruits & 3 limes. All the gharries here have two ponies; the country is more rolling than most places I've been. This is in the dry zone, so cactus and other signs of lack of water are plentiful; they irrigate from the lake, however, which is partly natural, but also artificial. Miss D. worked hard all day packing for herself [herself] and the Dudleys; I helped when I could and between times read several articles in a World's Work and in "Plain Tales". In the aft. we took another drive, this time to the right bank of the lake. I laid down awhile [awhile] in the aft. but didn't sleep. She had most of her furniture wrapped and tied up, too, so if she moves the biggest part of her work is done. We put away most of the dishes after dinner, and fixed up a lunch for tomorrow. I do not think I'd like to live here, tho' in some ways it has more possibilities than Prome, and at least I'd have other white faces to look at once in a while on account of the English officials and army officers stationed here. The jail is for junior offenders [offenders] only. The reason there are so few good Burmese carpenters, they say, is because it is looked down upon as a jail trade, it being one of the chief things taught there. You usually have to get a Chinaman.