Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1878-08-30)

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Hornaday Orient Expedition_1878_08_30_e.jpg

we could depend on my infallible ? And this isn't the
first season, the natives say, or I might have had a great many
more!
 Well, that day I bribed some natives to help
us clean bones & carry away meat, & for two days we were in a
perfect chaos of skins, bones, flesh, blood & viscera. It was the
most fun I have had since we took the skin & skeleton of an
elephant. At the end of the second day nine skins & nine skeletons
wave triumphantly in the breeze, & the skin of the little 'un
reposed calmly in the spirit can. </s Th > Ten Orangs in five
days is what I call good luck, and if anybody can see that
& go one better let them try, that's all. Yesterday we were so
fortunate as to get another fine one. Specimens of all kinds
are coming in, and as the folks say in meetin', "I feel that
it is good for me to be here."
 It rains here, misery on us how it rains! Every Jungle
with orange in it is under water and if we don't all get
the fever with this continual slopping about in water & much
it will be a mercy, that's all. The natives declare the orangs get
fever regularly, & I am half inclined to think there may
be something in it. I am comfortably housed every way
have 2 good boys. The natives are kind. The weather is cool, &
the musquitos are not bad, and I'm making a big &
valuable collection. You will be surprised when you see it,
cool as you are mostly. Day after tomorrow we start on
another trip up the river & will visit some new localities
& get 6 or 7 more orangs. I shall not leave here with less
than 25 good Orangs, and I expect to have even more
than that. Sen Piceari got 24, and have I not vowed to
snow every previous naturalist completely under? Verily. I'll
do it
 Now I must close & make out a list of specimens for
this month, which you will find enclosed. I am in excellent 
health & fine spirits & . Kindest regards to all
the family & friends & believe me
Yours as sincerely as ever,
Wm T. Hornaday

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we could depend on my infallible ? And this isn't the first season, the natives say, or I might have had a great many more!

    Well, that day </u we worked. >I bribed some natives to help

us clean bones & carry away meat, & for two days we were in a perfect chaos of skins, bones, flesh, blood & viscera. It was the most fun I have had since we took the skin & skeleton of an elephant. At the end of the second day nine skins & nine skeletons wave triumphantly in the breeze, & the skin of the little 'un reposed calmly in the spirit can. </s Th > Ten Orangs in five days is what I call good luck, and if anybody can see that & go one better let them try, that's all. Yesterday we were so fortunate as to get another fine one. Specimens of all kinds are coming in, and as the folks say in meetin', "I feel that it is good for me to be here."

    It rains here, misery on us how it rains! Every Jungle

with orange in it is under water and if we don't all get the fever with this continual slopping about in water & much it will be a mercy, that's all. The natives declare the orangs get fever regularly, & I am half inclined to think there may be something in it. I am comfortably housed every way have 2 good boys. The natives are kind. The weather is cool, & the musquitos are not bad, and I'm making a big & valuable collection. You will be surprised when you see it, cool as you are mostly. Day after tomorrow we start on another trip up the river & will visit some new localities & get 6 or 7 more orangs. I shall not leave here with less than 25 good Orangs, and I expect to have even more than that. Sen Piceari got 24, and have I not vowed to snow every previous naturalist completely under? Verily. I'll do it

    Now I must close & make out a list of specimens for

this month, which you will find enclosed. I am in excellent health & fine spirits & . Kindest regards to all the family & friends & believe me Yours as sincerely as ever, Wm T. Hornaday