233 $75 parcels arrived for Br. Community
????? ?????? ?????? ((Unclear, possibly “Bungalow murder attempt”)) (Clark/Rennie)
Diary pages from this date
The Americans have gone, 30th June.
Went to Dr Kirk today and he has prescribed palm oil for 'K' ((camp medical name for lack of periods, which affected most of us women)).
Tales that the notice about civilian foreign nationals doesn't apply to us, that Eden is still talking repatriation, and that we are in a very bad way in Egypt.
My weight now about 114 lbs, Olive still gaining, Mum losing a little.
We haven't got our $75parcels yet.
No relief in our room though more accommodation is available now American Quarters are vacant.
Started 'Holly' story.
Some $75 parcels are in - not ours.
In the morning the Asama Maru reaches the mouth of the Mekong River. Somewhat to Norman Briggs surprise, the ship makes its way up the narrow, winding river to Saigon - Briggs had expected the Americans interned there and in Bangkok to be brought out to the repatriation ship.
They arrive at Saigon just before noon. They anchor about five miles below the city and are soon surrounded by fruit sellers in sampans. In the afternoon a small Thai steamer arrives with the 80 Americans from Bangkok.
All night long it was hot and sultry, by far the worst night on the Asama.
Source:
Carol Briggs Waite, Taken in Hong Kong, 2006, Kindle Edition, Location 3362 onwards
I clearly recall being on deck when the boat paused in the river to meet a small narrow launch. A few people were let off the launch to come up the boarding ladder. Then we went down river, never having reached the city.
Vague recollection - somewhere along the way there were typical Asiatic entrepreneurial sampans selling mangoes and bananas etc alongside the boat. Eagerly bought by former internees who had been starving.
Today the folks at Saigon ((Now called Ho Chi Minh City in Viet Nam)) came on.
The scenery there is beautiful, and it was interesting to see all the sampans come selling fruit. We bought bananas and what a treat. The first in 9 months. They also have pomelos, papaya, mangos, loquat, cherries, etc. in this neighborhood. If only we could send some to our hungry Stanley friends.
The folks getting on all looked well and also well dressed. All agree that we Hong Kong folks look toughest and suffered most. What a gang of people on board, it’s really buzzing. I have a lady with three children at our table with us now. They came from Thailand. It’s all very interesting to hear the stories.
Sepastopol [sic] fallen. When will the list of our losses stop increasing I wonder. Alex & Cairo will be next it seems. Churchill tells us that the situation is serious but not grave. He knows more about it than we do so maybe he is right.
$75 parcels although reduced to $52.20 in value have at last become realities.
Showery.
Fridge moved from American Kitchen.
((I've used 3rd July, despite 4th July shown below. Ella Buuck records the people from Saigon boarded on the 3rd July. I think Ella's record is more likely to be accurate - she appears to have kept a daily diary at the time, whereas these notes were written up later.))
On July 4th, a beautiful day, we slowly made our way up the Saigon River to pick up the embassy staff from French Indo China, now S. Viet Nam ((now just 'Vietnam')).
Hawkers came along side the boat with all kinds of wares for sale. Wine and cigarettes were the “hottest” items; I doubt if either was very good.