libraries, museums, public offices, and such like to be seen,
besides the town itself. High up on the mountain side, more often in the
clouds than out of them, the cantonments of the English regiments were
visible from the park at Government House. The slope where they had been
placed was so steep that one wondered how they held on. They looked like
tablecloths stretched out to dry. I was to ride up there one day.
Meanwhile, as we were driving through the park and saw the white spots
shining up above us, I asked the aide-de-camp what the privates found
to do in such a place. The ground was too steep for athletics; no
cricket could be possible there, no lawn tennis, no quoits, no anything.
There were no neighbours. Sports there were none. The mongoose had
destroyed the winged game, and there was neither hare nor rabbit, pig
nor deer; not a wild animal to be hunted and killed. With nothing to do,
no one to speak to, and nothing to kill, what could become of them? Did
they drink? Well, yes. They drank rum occasionally; but there were no
public houses. They could only get it at the canteen, and the daily
allowance was moderate. As to beer, it was out of reach altogether. At
the foot of the mountains it was double the price which it was in
England. At Newcastle the price was doubled again by the cost of
carriage to the camp. I inquired if they did not occasionally hang
themselves. 'Perhaps they would,' he said, 'if they had no choice, but
they preferred to desert, and this they did in large numbers. They
slipped down the back of the range, made their way to the sea, and
escaped to the United States.' The officers--what became of them? The
officers! Oh, well! they gardened! Did they like it? Some did and some
didn't. They were not so ill off as the men, as occasionally they could
come down on leave.

One wondered what the process had been which had led the authorities to
select such a situation. Of course it was for the health of the troops,
but the hill country in Jamaica is wide; there were many other places
available, less utterly detestable, and ennui and discontent are as
mischievous as fever. General ----, a short time ago, went up to hold an
inquiry into the desertions, and expressed his wonder how such things
could be. With such air, such scenery, such views far and wide over the
island, what could human creatures wish for more? 'You would desert
yourself, general,' said another officer, 'if you were obliged to stay
t