to a large courtyard, in which they stripped off all their clothes and
foot-gear. As a health precaution all this stuff was scrapped and
destroyed. After being disinfected, the men received a complete new
outfit consisting of two pairs of drawers and two flannel shirts, a
cholera belt, socks, a pair of trousers and a dark blue cloth tunic with
linen lining and uniform buttons, and a red fez. Leather slippers for
privates and shoes for sergeants and corporals complete the outfit, the
smartness of which leaves nothing to be desired. Although on the day of
our visit the thermometer stood at about 53°F. many of the men were also
wearing their thick cloth overcoats. Every prisoner has fastened in his
tunic a small metal plate bearing his registration number.
Non-commissioned officers are distinguished by a white linen armlet,
crossed by a blue band for corporals, and by a red band for sergeants.
The sergeant-major wears a red armlet.


_Hygiene._--The drinking-water used in camp is drawn by two steam pumps
from a well sunk to a great depth close to the Nile. The Nile water,
after passing through a kind of natural filter, is thus lifted into a
reservoir above the camp, and is distributed in all directions by
gravity. The bacteriological analysis made every week when the supply
was first opened--now once a month--showed the water to be perfectly
pure.

Water for washing purposes is plentiful. Hot and cold shower-baths are
installed throughout the camp. The prisoners are obliged to use them
once a week, but may, if they choose, have a bath four times a day. In
summer especially the baths are never idle.

Prisoners get plenty of soap and wash their own linen on wooden tables