Bilbeis Camp is situated 65 kilometres (40-1/2 miles) to the north-east of Cairo, on the confines of the cultivated land of the Delta. Founded in the month of August, 1916, it now contains 540 prisoners grouped as follows:

First Division.—One hundred and thirty-five Bedouins from the East and the Sinai peninsula, and civilians coming from El Arish; 9 Arab soldiers of the Ottoman army; 5 Turkish soldiers from Syria; 30 Egyptians.

Second Division.—One hundred and seventy-five Senoussi and soldiers from Tripoli; 185 Bedouins from the West, and civilian prisoners of divers nationalities.

Among these prisoners are included several young boys who have relatives among the interned. The characteristic of this camp is the diversity of nationalities herein represented. Though the number of Turks is restricted, we thought it wise to visit this camp in order to assure ourselves that the treatment of the prisoners is the same as in other Egyptian camps.

The camp commandant is Colonel Collins.

The camp is surrounded by a barbed wire fence.

The prisoners are lodged under canvas, 8 men to a tent. At the present time two great barracks of timber framework and reeds are being erected, each large enough to contain 250 men. Their dimensions ensure perfect ventilation. The sandy soil shows no trace of damp. Between the tents little gardens are laid out wherein, thanks to the abundant water, the prisoners can grow flowers and vegetables.

The camp is lighted by paraffin reflector lamps.

Bedding.—Mats of plaited rush. Two blankets per man.

Exercise.—The dimensions of the camp leave large clear spaces where the prisoners can walk at their pleasure.

Food.—Cooking is done by the prisoners themselves, provisions being supplied by the administration. The quantities are the same as in the other camps. The menu consists of: meat, bread, butter, cheese, lentils, fresh vegetables, onions, rice, etc. The prisoners whom we interrogated, either personally or through the medium of an interpreter, declared that they were well fed. A little canteen, set up in a tent apart, provides them with such small luxuries as tea, sugar, and so on, at a moderate price. The prisoners get tobacco regularly. Each man has a plate, an enamelled bowl, and a spoon.

Dress.—The prisoners have all received a complete outfit. Their clothing was clean and warm. The mending of linen and outer garments is done by tailor prisoners, working in a tent provided for the purpose. Their headdress is the fez or a red cap.

Hygiene.—Drinking water is distributed everywhere throughout the camp by means of pipes well supplied with taps. Water for washing purposes is abundantly distributed to the lavatories, douches and bathing-places.

The prisoners do their washing in well-fitted wash-houses; a movable furnace facilitates the weekly disinfection of all the prisoners' effects.

The latrines, on the Turkish system, consist of movable tubs, emptied each day by means of a "shadouf," and then disinfected with cresol and whitewash. There are no smells in the camp.

Medical Attention.—Dr. Ibrahim Zabaji, a Syrian refugee doctor, undertakes the medical charge. His work is supervised twice a week by Lieut.-Colonel Garner and Captain Scrimgeour.

There are 3 Turkish orderlies and 1 Coptic orderly.

The infirmary is clean and well appointed. It is sub-divided into 4 quarters: the consulting room, dispensary, sick ward and isolation ward.

The beds are iron with wire springs, the mattresses stuffed with vegetable fibre, the number of blankets not limited.

All the men have been vaccinated against smallpox and cholera. We learned from the infirmary registers that 30-40 men attend daily at 8 o'clock, the doctor's visiting hour.

The advanced age of many of the prisoners, who are suffering from chronic affections, accounts for this large attendance.

The day we visited the infirmary it contained 8 patients: 3 cases of malaria, 3 cases of bronchial pneumonia, and 2 cases of dysentery.

As soon as they arrived in camp 25 men were attacked with tertian malaria; 15 are cured, 10 are still being treated with quinine. Of 7 attacked with dysentery 5 are now cured.

Ten men were suffering from trachoma and are still being treated with protargol.

There has been no typhoid fever, nor typhus, nor any other epidemic in the camp.

The serious cases are sent to the Egyptian hospital at Zagazig, where they are looked after by native doctors. There are 4 prisoners now in hospital: 1 eye case, 1 of tuberculosis, 1 of bronchitis, and 2 feverish patients under observation.

Six prisoners have died in the hospital since the camp was established here. One had tumour on the brain, 2 chronic enteritis, 1 tuberculosis, and 1 an intestinal obstruction. The dead were buried with military honours and according to the rites of their religion.

Work.—With the exception of fatigue duties, nothing is required from the prisoners besides a little light work in the gardens near the camp. Some of them make small articles which are sold for their benefit.

Correspondence.—The number of illiterates being very high (98 per cent.), letters are comparatively few. The prisoners are allowed to write three times a week, and a certain number of them get more educated comrades to write for them. Correspondence is practically impossible for those who belong to nomadic tribes.

Religion.—Except one Copt, all the prisoners are Mahometans. There are many imaums among them. Religious exercises are practised freely and regularly.

Discipline and Behaviour.—There are no complaints as to discipline, and no attempts to escape have taken place. Despite racial diversities, few quarrels take place among the prisoners, and the authorities seldom need to interfere. We spoke to an old and infirm sheik who is treated with particular regard and has a tent to himself; he told us that he is in every way satisfied.