Collecting Salt
Ordinary table salt was a precious commodity during those days in
ShamShuiPo. Of course, everything that is taken for granted in normal
times became scarce and of value to our starved senses.
ShamShuiPo. Of course, everything that is taken for granted in normal
times became scarce and of value to our starved senses.
Sugar and salt ranked first as agents to make the rice and green horror
more palatable.Not much could be done about sugar, although now and
then a little filtered into the camp and became available by one means or
another.
more palatable.Not much could be done about sugar, although now and
then a little filtered into the camp and became available by one means or
another.
Someone realized that sea water contains, among other chemicals, a lot
of ordinary NaCl, and although the method we used to extract the salt is
by no means original, having been practiced from time immemorial.
of ordinary NaCl, and although the method we used to extract the salt is
by no means original, having been practiced from time immemorial.
So, under whose instructions I cannot now recall, we set to work forming
"beds" in the dirt of the vacant space to the west of the main camp
buildings.
"beds" in the dirt of the vacant space to the west of the main camp
buildings.
We formed little walls around a "bed" about twenty feet square and
swept off as much loose dirt as possible. Then, under Japanese
supervision, we bailed water out of the harbour and dumped it in the
"beds" and waited for the sun to evaporate it.
swept off as much loose dirt as possible. Then, under Japanese
supervision, we bailed water out of the harbour and dumped it in the
"beds" and waited for the sun to evaporate it.
That worked well, and a thin coating of salt crystals was left behind. It
was pure salt, but there were other objects present as well.When we
tried to lift the salt off the ground, little balls of mud came with it. It was
bothersome, to say the least, to have to pick the mud out of your meager
rations of rice. The project was abandoned.
was pure salt, but there were other objects present as well.When we
tried to lift the salt off the ground, little balls of mud came with it. It was
bothersome, to say the least, to have to pick the mud out of your meager
rations of rice. The project was abandoned.
After all these years I still marvel at the guiding spirit that kept us alive
through all the beatings, starvation, mental stress and disease. Eating
mud-filled salt off the parade square could have killed us off with
dysentery, or worse. Would I do the same thing again? Perhaps, but a
little more carefully.
through all the beatings, starvation, mental stress and disease. Eating
mud-filled salt off the parade square could have killed us off with
dysentery, or worse. Would I do the same thing again? Perhaps, but a
little more carefully.
Knitting Sox
After a year or so behind barbed wire, most of our clothes were wearing
thin or gone altogether. Somehow or other, I had got hold of a British
Army issue wool sweater. Light green in colour, it had been machine knit
from the best of wool, but that too was badly worn.
thin or gone altogether. Somehow or other, I had got hold of a British
Army issue wool sweater. Light green in colour, it had been machine knit
from the best of wool, but that too was badly worn.
I had no sox at all, so I decided to rip out what was left of the sleeves of
the sweater and knit the yarn into a pair of sox. Great idea, but there
were a few problems to overcome.
the sweater and knit the yarn into a pair of sox. Great idea, but there
were a few problems to overcome.
First, the sleeves had a seam from wrist to armpit, with the result that
the yarn came out in pieces from six to ten inches long.
the yarn came out in pieces from six to ten inches long.
Another problem was, what to use for knitting needles. As a boy, I had
often watched Mother knit sox and mittens, so I had a faint idea of how
to go about it. The needles had to be found.
often watched Mother knit sox and mittens, so I had a faint idea of how
to go about it. The needles had to be found.
I solved the problem by getting some pieces of barbed wire (there was
lots of that!) twisting the barbs out of it, straightening the wire, cutting
four pieces about eight inches long, and sharpening the points on the
concrete floor.
lots of that!) twisting the barbs out of it, straightening the wire, cutting
four pieces about eight inches long, and sharpening the points on the
concrete floor.
The wire had been "galvanized", and in the straightening process, bits of
the protective metal flaked off, leaving a rough surface on the needles.
That didn't make for smooth knitting.
the protective metal flaked off, leaving a rough surface on the needles.
That didn't make for smooth knitting.
Then I had to learn how to knit. I got no encouragement from my
friends, who thought that I was slightly off kilter. Perhaps I was!
Anyway, I persevered, and eventually devised a way to make sticthes.
friends, who thought that I was slightly off kilter. Perhaps I was!
Anyway, I persevered, and eventually devised a way to make sticthes.
Then I was faced with the problem of the short pieces of yarn. These
had to be spliced together every ten or twelve stitches, something else I
had learned on my way to becoming master of the craft!
had to be spliced together every ten or twelve stitches, something else I
had learned on my way to becoming master of the craft!
How to turn the heel? That too, I overcame after much head scratching
and bad advice from my tormentors. Then, "take off" the toe.
and bad advice from my tormentors. Then, "take off" the toe.
Finally, a pair of wool sox! Wool, no less, a little small, and with legs
only about six inches long measuring from the heel. I wish I had them
now. I would put them in a frame!
only about six inches long measuring from the heel. I wish I had them
now. I would put them in a frame!