Games and Recreations.—­As regards games and recreations, the prisoners are interested only in wrestling, cards and dominoes.  They have been introduced to football without success.  Some have shown great skill in the manufacture of mandolines, guitars, and tambourines.  All materials as well as games are provided gratis by the British Government.  The camp commandant has bought the men some gramophones.  Many prisoners make articles of coloured beads—­handbags, purses, necklaces, bracelets, etc.—­which show considerable artistic taste.  We bought one of these beautiful pieces of work as a specimen.  The articles sell readily in the curiosity shops at Cairo.  One section of 1,200 prisoners netted from the sales a sum of 2,500 francs in a fortnight.

Correspondence.—­Most of the prisoners receive very few letters or none.  They are allowed to write in their language once a fortnight, but take very little advantage of the permission.  It seems that many letters addressed to their families in Turkey come back again, as the addressee has not been found.  Some Turks captured near Bagdad and transported to Burmah received their money from home, but have not received any more during the one or two months that have elapsed since they were transferred to Maadi.  It is probable that the money was sent home again, or forwarded officially to the new place of internment, and this takes a long time.  Several prisoners have taken advantage of their captivity to learn reading and writing with their comrades’ assistance.  Many men had money on them when they were taken.  This money is lodged, and handed to them at demand in monthly payments.  Many soldiers have received money orders from their families through the International Committee of the Red Cross.  Parcels, which are seldom received, are opened in the presence of the addressee.  Only knives are confiscated.

Help for Prisoners.—­Leaving out of consideration the wish expressed by some men to have a little money for buying extra tobacco and coffee, we are satisfied that there are no needy persons in the camp at Maadi.

Mentality.—­The many questions which we have asked show that there is no dissatisfaction among the prisoners with regard to the treatment they receive.  Prisoners have mentioned to us chiefly their anxiety about their families, of whom they have no news.  The Armenian clergy at Cairo look after their fellow-countrymen.

4.  The Egyptian Red Cross Hospital at Cairo.

(Visited on January 4, 1917.)

The Egyptian Red Cross, under the presidency of His Highness Prince Fuad Pasha, being anxious to help its co-religionists, founded in March, 1915, a hospital for sick and wounded prisoners of war.  This hospital is under the sole management of the Turkish Red Cross, which is in touch with the British authorities through Dr. Keatinge, Professor of the Faculty of Medicine at Cairo.