232 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 
much less to remain the modest unassuming character, as did Roland 
Trimen up to the end. Itis not, I believe, generally known how many 
were his gifts. As a conversationalist with his friends at home he was 
always keen and witty, and sometimes quite entrancing. His ready 
repartee (never cutting) was delightful, and he had a great power of 
setting men at ease in awkward situations, a single instance of this 
may well be told. A decidedly reserved Governor of the Cape was 
being entertained by a provincial magnate, and not only he but the 
whole party were being made quite uncomfortable by the flattery of 
their host, who was deprecating the iniquity of the local clergy in 
omitting at the morning service “the Prayer for his Excellency’s 
health.” A very awkward pause—a pause that could be felt —followed. 
In a moment Roland Trimen grasped the situation, and gaily broke in 
with, ‘Oh, Mr. , 1f you knew his Excellency as well as we do 
you would know he was long past praying for.” An almost audible 
sigh of relief followed immediately, like a rush of pure mountain air 
on the fervid plain, and conversation flowed again-—the situation was 
saved. His sense of humour was delicious, but it is not generally known 
that he had an extraordinary aptitude for the stage, and had he given 
his life to it he would certainly have ranked high amongst comedians. 
He had a most facile pencil and brush, and was a really capable artist 
and cartoonist, the latter being aided no doubt by his fine sense of 
humour. He was also a poet of much ability, sonnets and poems, and 
humorous verse, the latter especially on local doings were constantly 
appearing in the Colonial Press from his ever ready brain. He could 
not restrain his wit in some. of these local references, for instance, in a 
poem about a certain statue of Sir George Grey, the closing line of one 
of the stanzas was— 
** Whose grime belies his Order of the Bath.” 
His ‘Song of Longer Billee”’ (a certain noble Zulu who was deported 
to Robben Island), is very amusing, not only for itself but also for its 
side hit at a bishop, who created a sore controversy in those days, on 
an opinion that to-day would be passed over quite unnoticed. I can 
only give a portion of the rhyme— 
‘‘Give ear, Black and White, while I proudly relate 
The events that have made me a prisoner of state ; 
Oh ! little I thought when a starved refugee, 
Such distinction awaited poor Longer Billee ! 
“‘ A decent location I got in Natal, 
Sufficient to keep me and many a pal; 
From dread of Cetwayo and Panda set free 
Set up for a chieftain was Longer Billee. 
‘“‘T did very well on Her Majesty’s land, 
Eating up by degrees, the rich men of my band ; 
With their cattle and wives I then always made free 
As the proper belongings of Longer Billee. 
“ All went well while the Government left me alone, 
And we scarce had to pick an occasional bone ; 
But at length on the gun-tax I didn’t agree, 
Which put on his dignity Longer Billee. 
