It has been five days since I left London, I am sorry I have not written to you sooner, but Alexandris is our first mail stop since Marseilles, so I have decided to wait to write rather than send you letters that bear only thoughts. My dear, beloved Katherine, how can I describe the last few days to you? An how I wish that you were seeing! Just yesterday morning a new coastline appeared on the starboard side of the ship and I asked one of the sailors where it was. He answered, 'Africa', and seemed surprised by my question. Of course I felt foolish, but I could hardly control my excitement .... This morning we passed a small fishing boat, and a local fisherman stood and watched us steam by, a net hanging loosely from his hands, so close I could see the dried salt which dusted his skin. And less than a week ago I was still in London!