12 SPORT AND TRAVEL 



ventionality of which only the circumstances per- 

 mitted, drank abnormal quantities of lemonade, 

 and tried to persuade ourselves that we were com- 

 paratively cool, which was a pitiful farce. The only 

 event of the day which I truthfully can say I en- 

 joyed was the morning bath, and the method of 

 indulging in this ever-gratifying but now doubly 

 delightful ceremony was so unusual that I am 

 tempted to describe it. On ships running to the 

 East the greater number of passengers sleep on 

 deck during the hot weather, the forepart of the 

 deck being fenced off with tarpaulins for the ladies, 

 the remaining space being at the disposal of the 

 men. Each passenger's mattress is brought up by 

 his steward, and his bed made wherever he prefers 

 or can find space not already appropriated. The 

 intensity of the heat conduces to sociability rather 

 than to sleep, and not only is the first half of the 

 night spent in much chatting and story-telling, but 

 promptly at dawn the deck-sleepers are routed out 

 and their beds carried below. At this time the 

 ladies retire, not to reappear until eight, leaving 

 the field clear for the men. Now takes place an 

 extraordinary scene. The pyjama brigade for a 

 moment has disappeared. The sailors are busily 

 washing down the decks with swabbing brooms and 

 hose. Suddenly from the smoking-room appears a 



