Bandar Abbas, Persia, May 24, 1918 Dear Friend, I received your Easter card and copy of "Epistaxis" and the "Telegram ". Thanks very much. One appreciates these reminders of civilization in the desert. I have just completed the busiest three days of my life in the convoy office - absolutely buried in work, which is the reason I have not written sooner. My O.C. returned a week ago and took over, while I have only been paying off camel-men who finished their winter contracts. In a few days I am going into the South Persian Rifles office to relieve the adjutant, who is going on leave to India. It ought to be an agreeable change from counting camels etc. Now I spend most of my time in the office doing Persian, there being not more than two hours of office work. With all this time to myself, which will be about the same in the S.P.R. office, I have decided to try the Higher Standard Persian exam on July 1 st. This means working almost day and night, and learning all the old words I have ever forgotten, but it will not be much worse than the old finals. I am getting another tutor for that period - a regular instructor who has coached several people for their exams in India. Persian letters would almost turn one's hair grey, and therefore I do not want to prolong the agony. Really, I feel better working hard than doing nothing, as I found out again when I handed over running the office. The real summer weather is here now with a temperature up to 106 degrees. This does not seem very high, but the humidity of the Gulf atmosphere makes it much worse. There is enough dew at night to soak a heavy blanket through, and one must not sleep in the open. Our greatest concern is our health, and we have to be very careful as to the amount of time we spend in the sun, etc. The evenings are perfectly lovely. I usually go for a walk on the beach, or when in need of more vigorous exercise, for a ride out to the market gardens two miles away, where there is a great variety of vegetation. Riding along the dry river-bed between acres of palms and vegetables, one really forgets all about the desert beyond. I have tried my best to be sent up country again, to my old station, but the powers that be have decreed otherwise - at least for a couple of months. Perhaps it is just as well, if I can pass the exam. It really makes me sweat to think of this latter. Afternoon sleeps are quite an experience in the heat. One wakes up feeling like nothing on earth, but not as bad as if one had stayed awake. I take my siesta every day according to the doctor's orders. I never had any regular habits in this respect last year, which might have had something to do with the malaria. Above all, I do not want to be invalided to India again; it is hard enough to go there in good health, let alone being in hospital. Still, I am looking forward very much to leave which ought to come my turn by October. Kindest regards to all my Smithville friends. Yours sincerely, Austin.