1st November, 1943: The Americans

 During the morning I had a cup of "char" at the canteen. I could have eaten a breakfast, but one rupee out of the little I had to spare was too much for such a meal. The kitchen where the meals are cooked is not very highly polished, in fact it is always full of smoke and smells of burning fat and charred wood. Some fruit is fine, far more worthy of the sacrifice I would have to make.

After "tiffin", Bill, Loftie and I went to town. I had an exposed film which wanted printing. A good looking beggar woman, whom I knew from previous meetings, approached me, but before anyone could get a word out, I hear her talk "Baksheesh lady, you poor, me very poor", and to my astonishment she dropped a one twelfth anna coin in my hat. I felt like giving her all I had, it only amounted to a few annas, but restrained the foolish impulses. This woman is really beautiful, and she has a sense of humour. I gave her a cigarette and managed to convey to her that it would not make her head spin, - I hope. She in turn, with a smile written all over her face, assured me that it would not. This conversation was most amusing, for hardly a word was spoken by either of us.

We had dinner at camp, and with it the remainder of my money. I went to see Laurel and Hardy in "Air Raid Wardens". Joe came with me, and although the film is hardly up to their standard, it gave us a good hour's amusement.

At the end of the film, some Americans made their ignorance so obvious, that I did not know whether to pity them, laugh or scream at them. A few who stood near us yelled at a few Indian natives for walking out while the "Stars and Stripes" was played. Naturally, I thought them extremely patriotic and over zealous in their efforts to show this, but when they in turn started to walk out when "The King" was played, well...I am beginning to think them an ignorant set in many ways, and they suffer badly from "inferiority complex". This almost contradicts their actions, but why do they do such childish things, why make such ridiculous scenes in the street, unless it is to draw the attention of the crowd. When we were in Canada, and American soldier came up to a pal of mine, 

"Say - are you British?"

"Yes - I am"

"I'm an American see - I'm as good as you."

Who wanted to deny it, his own feelings that we, the British thought ourselves superior, and why should they think this.

America is such a young, grand nation, but the individuals are very small. When they realize this they might wake up to realities and act natural; it has been my privilege to see such Americans, and they are human, sensible and friendly.

As Joe and I sat down to a meal and Indian came in and started to argue with an American soldier. He, the soldier, looked a sullen dirty kind of chap, not typical of their average. The Indian left and returned with an M.P. [military policeman]. 

Apparently, this soldier had refused to pay for something, or had tried to swindle the man. The M.P. defended the Indian, and for once I take my hat off to the military police.

Indians are hard dealers - they bargain, and always get the better end of the deal, one has to be careful with dealing with them, but his word is his bond, he is no low cheat, he will not do any industrial swindling.