In 1893 Wyllie and his wife cruised to the West Indies on the Orient Line 'Garonne'. At Trinidad the cruise was curtailed following an outbreak of yellow fever on the ship that resulted in the deaths of some of the passengers and crew. The ship was quarantined and was at sea for many days before being diverted to the Mediterranean.

The watercolour shows passengers relaxing beneath awnings on the deck with crew – among them some who appear to be Asian – cleaning the deck. Beyond on the right an Asian woman wearing a red sari, probably an 'ayah', holds a child in her arms.