WHITE TROPICAL CHILDREN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20073, 9 October 1920, Page 6

WHITE TROPICAL CHILDREN.

It is always a pathetic sight to see (ho pale-faced children born in tropical countries arrire in England when they are about ten years of ago, on their way to the boarding-school that is to be their home for the next few' years (writes John Stone, of British Bast Africa). Added to the strangeness of their surroundings and homesickness is the suffering caused by their first English a inter. wheVi the poor shivering mites sit round the fire all days, and cannot yet pluck up the necessary courage to join their happier comrades at play in the cold and wet.

But this does not apply to the children whose home is in British East Africa—that is to say, in the highlands of this fine country. I have seen many white children born and bred here tvho could compete witli the chubby-faced mites one can seo any day trotting about Kensington Gardens. .

• Precautions _ are of course necessary to .contend with peculiarities, of clime and country, for although oyer 6600 feet above sea level we are still in the tropics, and the sun is a dangerous enemy. ,

It is quaint to seo tiny little tots with big blue eyes and rosy cheeks almost entirely hidden under the large sun helmet, and it is wonderful how soon even the youngest child realises that for some yet unknown reason he must never venture out of doors without his ouffia.

After the sun, " jiggers ” or chcgro aro the most formidable enemy of children, and adults too. The “jigger” is an Insect which enters the. skin of the foot, \ multiplying incredibly, and unless removed very carefully—that is to say, without breaking—it causes septic feet, ‘ jigger fa vor, and other complaints which often l ave serious .•csults. To rpb > a child's feet with ordinary paraffin oil once or twice a day, and put a few drops of the-same thing in the little shoes, seems to bo.. the most efficacious preventive, and certainly in my child’s case it has proved Infallible The mosquito is * another enemy to Iho white man, but a mosquito net all the year round (except in veiy high altitudce) and mosquito boots after sundown give that vicious little insect very little chance to inflict its wicked sting.

Clothes are another thing,one is apt 1° ho mistaken in ■when bringing n young child to this country. I brought a large supply of white dungs for my little girl, imagining that these were (he coolest and daintiest for a hot climate.

I have now packed thorn all away, and baby goes about In little brown puggaree cloth overalls,' which dp not show up. the dusty red coil and wash beautifully. Ono or two little tussore frocks for better occasions, and a woolly Jersey to slip ,on in the early mornings or late afternoons when the air gets chilly, are the most practical outer garments for n child. Under-garments are best left to the discretion of the mother, and depend greatly upon which port of tha country one is living in. On the whole the now-comor to the country need have no Tear of bringing out hia young family, and he can tie sure of a happy, healthy childhood for them m this country of beautiful birds flowers and scenery.