Here There and Everywhere

A tropical night is seldom quiet, what with the croaking of frogs, the chirping of the cicadas, and some bird, insect, or reptile that imitates the winding in of a fishing-reel for hours together, but really the noise of the Jamaican nights after the earthquake was quite unbearable. Negroes are very hysterical, and some black preachers had utilised the earthquake to start a series of revival meetings, and these were held just outside the grounds of King’s House. Right through the night they lasted, with continual hymn-singing, varied with loud cries and groans. Abide with me is a beautiful hymn, but really its beauties began to pall when it had been sung through from beginning to end nine times running.