T.’s wife was at home selling and packing, quite cheerful, but says T.’s old mother mourns the years of labour given to the vineyard, etc. (naturally). Her neighbours had torn some sheets of corrugated zinc from their roofs to sell. The Government forbade it.
28th July.
Many people actually left on Monday, so that in all over forty families have gone, and many more are to go next Thursday. Our baker went on two hours’ or less notice. He left bread in the oven, and gathered up wheat that was drying. He has a lame wife and three children, and his half-blind mother went also. There seems to be no help. (N.B.—The poor baker died soon on the way.)
A few families have left BV. and several men have left AE., with families to follow. The poverty and distress of the people is heartbreaking. The poor family from BM., which you gave help to and who have seven daughters, are to go next Monday. This intense heat has pulled the eldest daughter down so that she is confined to her bed. I fear it is tuberculosis. Doctor says so. The family will ask delay. There isn’t much chance of their getting it.
—— (the Moslem doctor) examines people and says to the sick, “You can go,” and gives a stimulant. The mother of the R. brothers is to go on Monday. I hope we can keep the boys here.
I’ve bought a cow for which I paid three liras (fifty-four shillings). Others would not have paid so much, but it means food and money for the journey.
Wages in the factory have been cut down, as people are willing to work at any price if they can escape exile.
2nd August.
Over forty more families left this morning. Most of them were very poor, and it was a sad sight to see them going to the station on foot, loaded down with small children, jugs, baskets and bundles. They were not laughing or talking at all; some of the children were crying; better off people went to the train by carriage, but looked no happier. Thus far soldiers’ families seem to be exempt.
Sixty men from AE. were on the train as exiles this morning; more are to follow. The train runs now for military and exile service from AE. I can’t even write letters, my mind is so upset.