19. Sep. 1938

[Sept 19]

The Deck in London

The Balmoral Castle arrived in Southampton [England] on the morning of 19^th (The Previous night the Pilot boarded from a motor boat [,] it was an exciting to see — the Pilot boat swing to position and the Pilot climbing up the rope ladder -) 

All the passengers busy packing and clearing up cabins – I look up Mehta [,] he dresses up & we go to upper for letters at P.O. & Abr [Abraham] arrives to see if his Bournemouth Cousin has not written [.]  No letters for me except from a motor firm asking me to bring a car!

I am disappointed with the Harbour buildings [.]  Warehouses zinc structures but I realise that life here is based on definite necessity and utility [.]  Once on the side we see the Sea Place factory – afterwards a little man am umbrella arrives looking for Mehta - He is a typical lawyers clerk – in morning dress & hat [,] has a bag in his hand from which he produces letters from [illegible] concerning Mr Mehta – The sailors are working feverishly [,] glad to be back home – Mr Watson appears carrying a helmet – The lawyer says you not need that here [,] you want an umbrella – Cooks’ men are evident everywhere – A Joe H man comes to me & asks of a Mancoba – He gives me the address for Loctt London & tells me there is a letter for me at the Bureau (Brat) [.] It is from Miss Birch Kat & I am glad –

[/P] We watch the luggage being slided down the chute and it looks as if everything will go to pieces in this way [,] it is carried over to the Customs Officer and I disembark with Mr Watson – He looks dreadful and speaks of coming over uneasily – He is not certain how soon he will have to get back to Africa - 

[/P] I buy a ticket 3rd class for London & go to the Customs to see about my luggage — I have nothing to declare — I see a man offering to carry my luggage to the boat train [.]  He looks a decent chap I give him a 1/ — I share compartment with Watson [,] soon Mehta arrives with little lawyer and the other Indians — I am glad Nk has a compartment elsewhere as I can’t stand him — It is queer to see the S Africans in the same class as blacks [,] in S Africa they are demigods who live in another world — But England will soon have rigid colour bars [,] I can sense it.  The pattern of the English mind is essentially Nazi - The many incidents that appear more & more frequently in the Papers are significant [.]  During the Coronation many unpleasant incidents occurred — If England want to keep her Dominions she must be Nazi — And I believe these South Africans will try to stir up Public Opinion to a sympathetic England.