IN TROPIC SEAS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 851, 20 December 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

IN TROPIC SEAS

By

Rev. S. F. N. WAYMOUTH

aHE art of choosing a completely satisfactory holiday is almost as delicate as that of choosing a wife; although in the latter case it is inadvisable and taetless to own that the lady may have latent defects, which only serve to heighten her charms. In the case of a holiday it is possible to allow such things.

The fortunate ones who may have anything they desire in this world are under no limitations in the matter of holidays. They have but to choose what they wish to do and, without considering expense, they may do it. To the less fortunate members of society there are two courses open. They may save up for months and then take a holiday in circumstances far more luxurious than those of their normal existence. To these people I bow respectfully and with amazement, for I cannot imagine how they overcome the feeling of flatness upon returning to their usual life. The other course is to choose a holiday which has certain advantages to suit individual tastes, and yet is sufficiently lacking in cither ways to allow of considerable relief in the return to the ordinary daily round. Only by regarding the end can the perfect holiday be chosen.

Every day more or less the same things happen at almost the same time hence the first requisite is to escape from the tyranny of routine and the clock. For this purpoge let there be chartered a small cutter with an engine, and let me go for a cruise afnong the balmy isles of the Pacific. The clock is quite unimportant, for we are really at the mercy of the wind. The engine is only of use if there is absctutely no breeze, for the speed is only four miles an hour. Given an agreeable companion, this first need is satisfied, and it may be said that the whole trip depends upon a good choice in this matter. Having obtained your boat and your mate, and having planned out a prospective course, you are then on the way toward thorough enjoyment of the prinfitive life. You may plan your course, but wind and wave will settle the question as to whether you achieve it or not. In my case it does not matter, for while the compass is on board, watches, by common consent, have been left at home.

Occupation is an easy matter —a large supply of light literature, quite opposed to your usual line of reading, good fishing tackle, an adequate supply of tobacco; and then you take your choice between reading, fishing, or looking lazily at the sea. There is also the daily problem as to which of the good things you will eat out of your larder stocked with tins of various kinds. This is sufficient occupation for calm and balmy days. On rough days you have in addition, the problem of keeping on board and remaining reasonably dry. Also you bave the primitive and excellent feeling of hunger, for you may breakfast at sunrise, and until you reach the lee of some island at sunset, it may be too rough to eat anything but biscuit. There is a fine feeling of endurance on days like this!

It is possible to touch at islands daily and then the only question is whether there are people whom you wish to visit or not. If not, you go ashore in ancient clothes and with a two-day’s beard. If you have visits to pay, it is of course, necessary to clean up, and the result is so pleasant that you wonder why you are not strong-minded enough to do it daily. For a man whose life is monotonous and who can enjoy the actual primitive discomfort of such a trip, it can be highly recommended. Upon your return home even arrears of work do not worry you. People who have done tiresome things in your absence are regarded with charity, the worst wailings of your infant son sound like sweet music in your ears, and so far from that stale feeling of nausea at the end of a holiday spent in a far better standard of living than is your common lot, there is actually an accession of strength to turn to all toil once more. This, after all, is the purpose of a holiday.