1. INTRODUCTION

2. OBSERVATIONS AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS
2.1. VLT/UVES observations
2.2. HST/COS observations
2.3. FUSE observations
2.4. GASS 21cm observations
2.5. ATCA 21cm data
2.6. Spectral analysis methods

3. COLUMN-DENSITY MEASUREMENTS

4. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CONDITIONS IN THE GAS
4.1. Ionization conditions and overall metallicity
4.2. Nitrogen abundance
4.3. Dust depletion pattern
4.4. Physical conditions in the H₂ absorbing region
4.5. Electron density and C⁺ cooling rate from CII* absorption

5. DISCUSSION
5.1. Enrichment history of the Magellanic Stream
5.2. Physical conditions and small-scale structure in the gas
5.3. Relevance to intervening QSO absorbers

6. SUMMARY