226 SUNSHINE AND SPORT IN 



Quinine, an admirable preventive of malaria, of 

 which I took from six to eight grains daily for five 

 or six weeks, and with the best results, does 

 nothing to allay the misery occasioned by the bites, 

 and I was a mass of wounds, the half of them self- 

 inflicted, for, against all counsels of perfection, I 

 scratched myself until my ankles were raw and on 

 the verge of blood-poisoning. By day I tore 

 myself with intent, by night without, for whenever 

 I woke up I remember that my nails were busy. I 

 am not of the stuff that made martyrs at the stake ; 

 God and my dentist know that I am a woeful 

 coward in the matter of physical pain, and to keep 

 my hands off such irritation is beyond me. Where 

 the mosquitoes leave off, I begin, and the result is 

 appalling. One of my most agonising experiences 

 of these residents at Montego Bay was one evening 

 when playing lawn-tennis in a gentleman's garden 

 that gives a wonderful view of the Bogue Islands 

 and shipping in the bay. Even a bonfire of 

 pimento leaf, which is regarded as efficacious, 

 failed to keep the swarms off the courts, and I 

 enjoyed the novel sensation of feeling a couple at 

 work on my eyelids at the moment of serving or 

 taking a half-volley. 



It is true that the orthodox tourist season is not 

 supposed to last beyond the end of April, but there 

 is no other reason than the mosquitoes why at any 

 rate for those who do not mind moderate heat and 

 wear light clothing, best bought in the island it 

 should not be prolonged a couple of months. 



It is time therefore that something should be 

 done to cope with what must undoubtedly be 

 regarded as a serious drawback to any tropical 



