Like the Irish, the Mauritians were alien to the English in race, culture and religion.

"...and I bet she's dirty, and all. She's bound to take it up the Gary Glitter.” “I'm sure that Mel's a nice church-going lass,” I countered, almost managing a straight face, “who has never been kissed, let alone done up the arse.”

In South East Nigeria I knew him only slightly between 1923 and 1948; a self-effacing but self-sufficient figure pushbiking about the country in khaki shorts, white shirt and plimsolls, always purposeful, seldom interested in the whisky, gin, and bridge sessions that passed for evening society in bush stations.

It was at Para also that we engaged Gomez and Manuel, two half-breeds from up the river, just come down with a cargo of redwood.