Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/64

40 camped anywhere—some on the verandah and several in a room, a bed being made up for me the floor in one room.

On going in to breakfast in the morning it turned out that this bachelor establishment had run out of tea and coffee, and I was offered beer in a cup! I shudder yet when I think of it, for beer the first thing on a broiling hot morning is not in my line; but beer in a cup! This station was almost demolished ere we left it, that being the thing to do on such a holiday visit as this. It would take them a week to put it right again. However, it was expected, and no one seemed to mind. I adapted myself as best I could to the company and the ways.

We then went to a station on another island—a most lovely spot—called Wai Weer; here gin was offered and had to be accepted, as they are offended if you refuse. I was greatly taken with this island, and could I have done so would have purchased it on the spot. Then we embarked again and had another glorious sail to Goode Island, to S's station. Here we found Mr.S and Mrs. S, a very nice-looking, refined lady—a new arrival in this part of the world also their children and a visitor. All we men tramping in were taken as a matter of course, and a good dinner was served at once. The house was entirely built of corrugated iron, but painted inside and out with many coats of white paint, which made it look quite nice; and they had many tasteful and pretty things about, and even some old family portraits on the walls. I would have liked to meet these pleasant people under other circumstances; the mixture of refinement, comfort, and primitiveness up here in the Straits is rather quaint.

We then went on to Friday Island—and I