228 



SUNSHINE AND SPORT IN 



ship's crew, chaffered on board until bundled over 

 the side with more force than ceremony just as the 

 anchors came up, and we got under weigh just as 

 the sun was going down astern. The north coast of 

 Jamaica is described by a local enthusiast as 

 " impressive in its grandeur.'* I am quite sure that 

 it is so, only, having passed in the night, I am 

 obliged to take its grandeur on trust. The run 

 was made pleasant by the good-fellowship of the 

 Assistant Manager of the Company, as well as of 

 Captain Oertel, who entertained us after dinner 

 with a splendid gramaphone that gave Melba and 

 Caruso records. There was a German touch about 

 this al fresco concert that brought back my old 

 university days at Rostock. Where is the English 

 skipper of a coasting tramp who would give you 

 selections from Grand Opera, and know all the 

 numbers, music and libretto as well, by heart ? 



Gradually a little light showed on the top of the 

 cliffs, but it was not until the anchors had rattled 

 down through the clear water inside Port Antonio 

 that I saw the dawn break, gold and purple, over 

 the narrow gates of that beautiful harbour and 

 light up the Titchfield Hotel its situation is 

 equalled by no other in the island closed, however, 

 all but a few cottage annexes, for the summer. 

 Thanks to the direct service from New York, this 

 immense hostelry is the resort of American tourists 

 all through the winter months, and apart from this 

 source of revenue, the place has its banana export 

 trade. It is also noted for its rainfall. The hotel 

 is open only half the year ; the bananas and the 

 rain go on for ever, and have no seasons. Appro- 

 priately enough, I found and left it a lake, on which 



