54 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



frequently sixteen, hours of the twenty-four were spent in 

 the open air, ashore and afloat. 



What a glowing and absolutely authentic testimonial 

 could be written as to the tonic influence of the misrepre- 

 sented climate of the rainy belt of North Queensland on 

 constitutions that have run down ? According to popular 

 opinion, malaria ought to have discovered an exceptionally 

 easy prey. Ague, if the expected had happened, should 

 have gripped and shaken me until my teeth rattled ; and 

 after alternations of raging fever and arctic cold, I ought 

 to have gone to my long home with the fearful shapes of 

 delirium yelling in my ears. But there are places other 

 than Judee where they do not know everything. At the 

 fraction of the fee of a fashionable doctor, and of the cost 

 of following his fashionable and pleasing advice — a change 

 to one of the Southern States — in three months one of the 

 compelling causes for the desertion of town life had been dis- 

 posed of by agreeable processes. None of the bitter, after-taste 

 of physic remained. I knew my island, and was on terms 

 of friendly admiration — born of knowledge of beauty spots — 

 with all the others. I had become a citizen of the universe. 



During this period of utter abandonment of all serious 

 claims upon time and exertion came the conviction that 

 the career of the Beachcomber, the closest possible " return 

 to Nature" now popularly advocated, has charms none 

 other possesses. Then it was that the lotus-blossom was 

 first eaten. 



Unfettered by the laws of society, with the means at 

 hand of acquiring the few necessaries of life that Nature in 

 this generous part of her domain fails to provide ready- 

 made, a Beachcomber of virtuous instinct, and a due percep- 

 tion of the decency of things, may enjoy a happy life. 

 Should, however, he be of the type that demands a wreck 

 or so every month to maintain his supplies of rum or gin, 

 and other articles of his true religion, and is prepared if 

 wrecks do not come with regularity to assist tardy Nature 

 by means of false lights on the shore, he will find no scope 

 whatever among these orderly isles. 



