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Lot Essay
Goodwin visited Jamaica between 7th March and 10th April, 1902, his last disembarkation in the West Indies before sailing on to Philadelphia.
Whilst there his imagination was engaged by the phenomenon of fireflies lighting up the tropical foliage in the West Indies. While staying in Montpelier, Jamaica, towards the end of March, 1902, Goodwin was disturbed in bed:
'Was woken up in the night by a sound like someone playing the piano; heard the bass of it and wondered who the nocturnal player could be. Then suddenly a light flared on ceiling and I realised the bass was the hum of a big firefly and the candle its light. Watched it flying about till sleep brought oblivion. (Diary, 26th March, 1902)'.
Whilst there his imagination was engaged by the phenomenon of fireflies lighting up the tropical foliage in the West Indies. While staying in Montpelier, Jamaica, towards the end of March, 1902, Goodwin was disturbed in bed:
'Was woken up in the night by a sound like someone playing the piano; heard the bass of it and wondered who the nocturnal player could be. Then suddenly a light flared on ceiling and I realised the bass was the hum of a big firefly and the candle its light. Watched it flying about till sleep brought oblivion. (Diary, 26