I retired to my room feeling rather fatigued by the various experiences I had already gone through, but for want of something more interesting I began to study my 'Instructions.' The first document was a closely printed circular of eight foolscap pages containing numerous extracts from the Law relating to the Conduct of Foreign Observers. By the time I had waded through this I thought I had done enough for one day, and as the orderly came in with preparations for some supper I asked him if I might see the daily paper. He did not seem to understand what I meant. After some further explanation he said, "We have no daily paper in Bridgetown: we have only the weekly local gazette." "But you have some kind of newspaper which circulates in Bridgetown," I said. "Perhaps it is published in some other large town, perhaps in Mecco?" I suggested. (Mecco is the capital of Meccania.) "We have no general newspaper published daily," he replied. I thought he had misunderstood me, so I begged him to bring me the local Gazette. He said he would try to get me a copy. Presently, while I was eating my supper, another official, dressed in a bright chocolate-coloured uniform with green facings, made his appearance. He explained that Inspector Stiff had gone home--it was then about seven o'clock or later--and that he was left in charge of the office. I had asked for a newspaper. For what purpose did I require a newspaper? "Oh," I said, "just to see the current news." "News what about?" he asked. "About anything," I replied. "One likes to see the newspaper to see what is going on." "But no one wants anything except for some purpose," he replied, "and you have not explained the purpose for which you require a newspaper. Also, there are no general newspapers. There are the various gazettes issued by the different departments of Government, and there are a few local gazettes dealing with purely municipal matters. But until you have entered upon your authorised tour of observation, I should have no authority to supply you with any of these." What a fuss about such a trifle, I thought, and wished I had never troubled him. I apologised for making the request, whereupon he said, "If you wish for something to read after supper there is a case of books in the office, from which, no doubt, I can supply your needs." I thanked him, and presently went to see the books. There was a work on the _Law in Relation to Foreign Observers_, in three volumes; a _History of the Development of Town Planning_, in five volumes; a treatise on _Sewage_, in two volumes; a series of Reports on the various Municipal Departments of Bridgetown; an _Encyclopædia of Building_; and a few other works equally interesting. I took away a volume, hardly noticing what it was, intending to use it only as a means of inducing sleep, which it did most effectively.