202 THE LIFE OF PHILIP HENRY GOSSE. 



experience. While lying in the berth of the little close 

 cabin, he was awakened by a severe twinge in the side of 

 his neck ; on putting his hand to the place, he took hold 

 of some object which was so firmly fastened to the flesh 

 that it required a sharp tug to make it let go. By the 

 dim light of the cabin-lamp he discovered that he had 

 caught, fortunately by the tail, a large scorpion. The 

 pain was sharp, but perhaps not greater than that of a 

 wasp-sting ; the wound swelled rapidly, but, being rubbed 

 with rum by the old skipper, speedily healed. " One of 

 the most curious of the results was a numbness of some of 

 the nerves of the tongue, perceptible in the papilla of the 

 surface, which felt as if dead." 



They entered Kingston Harbour that night, and finding 

 that, as he anticipated, he had missed the packet, Philip 

 Gosse took lodgings in the town, not altogether displeased 

 to be forced to see something more of the capital of 

 Jamaica. Next day he engaged a berth on board the 

 steamer Avon, which was to sail on July 9. He met 

 Richard Hill, by a fortunate accident, that same afternoon, 

 and received from him the welcome news that the Jamaica 

 Society had resolved to entrust him with the Anthony 

 Robinson manuscripts to take with him to Europe. 

 He went up then and there to the society's rooms, and 

 secured these valuable papers. After a fortnight, divided 

 between Spanish Town and Kingston, and much spoiled 

 by the distress of an ulcerated leg, he at length said fare- 

 well to his friends and to Jamaica, Richard Hill waving 

 adieu to him from the quay at Kingston, and another 

 friend, Dr. Fairbank, kindly accompanying him, for com- 

 pany's sake, so far as Port Royal. His last glimpse of 

 Jamaica was the twinkling of the lighthouse on Point 

 Morant. Next day, at daybreak, the mountains of Hayti 

 were visible, and " during the whole day we ran along the 



