Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 338
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[Page 338]
not altogether civilised. It seems to be inhabited by cut-throats and land-pirates who in the intervals between gun-running into Guatemala earn an honest crust by robbery and murder. At any rate that was what we were told. No-one could say that British Honduras was desirable, and no-one, I imagine, would live there except for considerable financial compensation. We stood Belize for two days; but as there wasn't a good bridge four in the place, the Captain decided to make for Kingston again where a better game could be had. This time we only stayed a short while in Kingston, and then left on the 23rd June for Trinidad.
We were still despatch-carrying and taking things easily. Except for the heat everything was moderately comfortable. Mails were slightly more plentiful, and fresh food was always to be had. In the West Indies it is always difficult to get mutton. The islanders do not seem to run to sheep and when one was killed the local butcher let the neighbourhood know. When we did get mutton it was always goat.
The ladies of St. Lucia had formed a Rifle Club, and challenged the officers of the Sydney to a match. We accepted and chose a team of five. Why the writer was among the number he never quite knew. However, after tea the shooting began. At the end we needed the possible to win, and I was the last man down. Now I never could shoot, and I couldn't even see the target; but having got the general direction from the Gunnery Lieutenant, and with the rifle waving about like a tree