We were getting short of money

TCD MS 3416 page 76

TCD MS 3416 page 76

[August 1916]

laughter, to the amusement of the Interpreter and the Mulazim. The lane was closed except for two hours of the hottest part of the day namely between 3 & 5 o’clock in the afternoon. This lane was exactly 58 yards long by 3 broad. About Aug 5th we were living at 6 pts per diem against the Contractors rates of 15 pts we were living well, but we were getting very short of money and unless we received some pay or contribution from the American Consul by the 21st of the month we would have been bankrupt and that would have meant no food. On Aug 6th the lane was opened to all, all day, and the following day the Senior Officers were taken out for a walk after 10 days close confinement. The reason given by the Comdt for dismissing the Contractor was, to say the least of it, amusing “I have dismissed the contractor” said he “because you are dissatisfied with him”, but the truth was that the Turks having kept us for 3 months without pay, we were therefore unable to pay the contractor who had gone to considerable expence in his outlay of necessities etc. He evidently knew his Government better than we did, as did he know the value of those