The nights ring with incessant croaking

TCD MS 10515 folio 37r

TCD MS 10515 folio 37r

Monday: April 17th 1916: Basra Yesterday was bright cool and exhilarating. Sander and I went again fishing. This time he captured a 20Lb. Tigris “Salmon”, a beautiful fish, excellent eating. The mornings and evenings are beautifully fresh, butmidday is uncomfortably warm. The nights ring with the incessant croaking of the thousands of frogs that people the streams. Very little news. It is rumoured that we are attmepting to advance guns along embankments in the direction of the flank evacuated by the enemy as a consequence of the floods. The best symptom is the general air of optimism at Army Headquarters.

Sunday: April 23rd 1916:Basra

Fine cloudless, tropical skies greet us everyday