My Tropic Isle

My Tropic Isle

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Title: My Tropic Isle
Author: E J Banfield
Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7177] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 22,
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ISLE ***

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MY TROPIC ISLE
BY
E. J. BANFIELD
AUTHOR OF "THE CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER"
T. FISHER UNWIN
LONDON: ADELPHI TERRACE LEIPSIC: INSELSTRASSE 20
1911
TO
MY WIFE

"What dost thou in this World? The Wilderness For thee is fittest
place."
MILTON.
"Taught to live The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts To
interrupt sweet life."
MILTON.

PREFACE
Much of the contents of this book was published in the NORTH
QUEENSLAND REGISTER, under the title of "Rural Homilies."
Grateful acknowledgments are due to the Editor for his frank goodwill
in the abandonment of his rights.

Also am I indebted to the Curator and Officers of the Australian
Museum, Sydney, and specially to Mr. Charles Hedley, F.L.S., for
assistance in the identification of specimens. Similarly I am thankful to
Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby, of Brisbane, and to Mr. A. J. Jukes-Browne,
F.R.S., F.G.S., of Torquay (England).
THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER.
I. IN THE BEGINNING II. A PLAIN MAN'S PHILOSOPHY III.
MUCH RICHES IN A LITTLE ROOM IV. SILENCES V. FRUITS
AND SCENTS VI. HIS MAJESTY THE SUN VII. A TROPIC NIGHT
VIII. READING TO MUSIC IX. BIRTH AND BREAKING OF
CHRISTMAS X. THE SPORT OF FATE XI. FIGHT TO A FINISH
XII. SEA WORMS AND SEA CUCUMBERS XIII. SOME MARINE
NOVELTIES XIV. SOME CURIOUS BIVALVES XV. BARRIER
REEF CRABS XVI. THE BLOCKADE OF THE MULLET XVII.
WET SEASON DAYS XVIII. INSECT WAYS XIX. INTELLIGENT
BIRDS XX SWIFTS AND EAGLES XXI. SOCIALISTIC BIRDS
XXII. SHARKS AND RAYS XXIII. THE RECLUSE OF
RATTLESNAKE XXIV. HAMED OF JEDDAH XXV. YOUNG
BARBARIANS AT PLAY XXVI. TOM AND HIS CONCERNS
XXVII. DEBILS-DEBILS XXVIII. TO PARADISE AND BACK
XXIX. THE DEATH BONE

ILLUSTRATIONS (Not included in this eBook)
"AT ONE STRIDE COMES THE DARK" Photo by Caroline Hordern
COCONUT AVENUE Photo by Caroline Hordern THE BUNGALOW
FERN OF GOD PARASITIC FERN THE COVE, PURTABOI
BRAMMO BAY, FROM GARDEN PANDANUS PALM
PECTINARIAN TUBES CLAM SHELL (Tridaena gigas)
EMBEDDED IN CORAL FIRE FISH (Pterois lunulata). TRIGGER
FISH (Balistapus aculeatus) CORALS EGG CAPSULES OF BAILER
SHELL DEVELOPMENT OF BAILER SHELL EGG CAPSULES OF
MOLLOSC, ATTACHED TO FAN CORAL HARLEQUIN PIGFISH
(Kiphocheilus fasciatus) "FAERY LANDS FORLORN," TIMANA.

NEST OF GREEN TREE ANT MATCH-BOX BEANS
PALL-KOO-LOO WHERE SWIFTLETS BUILD SWIFTLETS'
NESTS H. Barnes, Jun., Photo. Australian Museum UMBRELLA
TREE (Brassaia actinophylla) Photo by Caroline Hordern HAMED OF
JEDDAH BLACKS' TOYS--1. PIAR-PIAR; 2. BIRRA-BIRRA-GOO;
3. PAR-GIR-AH TURTLE ROCK, PURTABOI DISGUISES OF
CRABS WYLO DEFIANT THE DEATH BONE YANCOO'S LAST
RITE

MY TROPIC ISLE

CHAPTER I
IN THE BEGINNING
Had I a plantation of this Isle, my lord--
* * * * *
I' the Commonwealth I would by contraries Execute all things; for no
kind of traffic Would I admit . . . riches, poverty And use of service,
none.
SHAKESPEARE
How quaint seems the demand for details of life on this Isle of Scent
and Silence! Lolling in shade and quietude, was I guilty of indiscretion
when I babbled of my serene affairs, and is the penalty so soon
enforced? Can the record of such a narrow, compressed existence be
anything but dull? Can one who is indifferent to the decrees of
constituted society; who is aloof from popular prejudices; who cares
not for the gaieties of the crowd or the vagaries of fashion;