Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1876-02-25)

Hornaday Feb/ 76. Mr Jackson is a good hand at driving bargains, and the way he gets ahead of these darkies is delightful to see. Between us both the natives stand a </u miserably > poor show of skinning us poor pilgrims but of money.

    We have not drawn any money here yet,

but will be obliged to soon. Our letters of credit are each good for $430. gold yet, and I believe Mr Jackson has quite a little besides.

    Alcohol .25 proof (clear) cost $2. per

gallon here, and you see it will not admit of </u any > diluting. Spirits are higher than in Barbados. Now I can get plenty of </u fish > of various species, but your words were - "don't waste your alcohol on fish". But I feel that we </u must > get some of the rarer and more unique birds. We are fixed now so that we can work to </u good > advantage, and are not idling away a single hour. We are in Splendid health & spirits, and feel like hard work. Don't it look so, when between 3 of us we row 28 miles in one day?

    The U.S. Consul is a very nice </s little fellow > ^man^

but I fear there is not as much in him as there is in Jackson.

    If this letter is too long, please tell me

at once. Our address will remain the same all the time we are away from home I think. I hereby send my regards to Mrs Ward & Miss Eunice, and I wish you all to kiss Baby for me. I will write you by </u every > chance, sailing vessel or otherwise. I have written you all about Mr Wildeboer in my two previous letters. Very truly yours Wm T. Hornaday.