Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to the Ward, Henry A. (1878-12-22)

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Everett </s so > suggested that you might find it profitable to
get Ceram & Macassar things from him. There is in
Celebes a rare & valuable ruminant call the "Sapi
utan" in Malay. in Science, which
is the connecting link between the antelopes & buffaloes, large
as a small ox. . It is very rare, very fierce & found only in the
mountains. There is also a black ape in Celebes. .. Forbes might get both these profitably. Everett says
he could not afford to go to Celebes for them, as there is nothing
else of value there. If could not afford it, with his bird
collecting, how much less could There are no Babinoursa in
Bauca. Everett says.
 Sold last month to British Museum.
True you did not tell me to get
any. According to your directions there are fishes to be had
in Singapore. You were sorry I got so many in Ceylon. Now, I
beg your pardon, but I let me remind you how I protested as
strongly as I dared against sending so much spirits to Singapore
when we were in London. You sent 72 gallons here. 88 degrees above
proof, equal to 144 gals at 20 degrees above proof. Now, what on
earth was I to do with it? Sell it at auction (part of it) for
less than it cost? No, I said I must it somehow now
that I have it. So I collected a few Bornean fishes. small
ones entire, larger one in skin, in all about 5 gallons of spec-
imens I suppose. Luckily one 12 - gallon (iron) drum was
packed in London. Such i never
saw before. 36 gallons I have used. 12 gallons I shall trade
to Everett on his specimens @ the rate of $1.00 per gallon. &
24 gallons I shall take to Australia or elsewhere. The fishes
from Borneo I shall keep, because they are long since packed
& soldeered up ready to send. If you make a practice of
leaving all brine & alcoholic specimens 2 or 3 months ^unopened^ at the
Establishment don't be surprised if some come to grief.
 did I telegraph ( as a serious man) that I had
"ten big orangs" when my letter states that I had only 4
that were really ? I am surprised that with your usual
penetration, and as well versed as we now are in each others
ways of doing things, that you did not divine the reason at
once without any surprise atall. My telegram was to
give you an idea of how things were opening up rather than
to state exact details. While my to? orangs were not all

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  </u Bornean Freshwater Fishes >  Sold last month to British Museum.

True you did not tell me to get any. According to your directions there are fishes to be had in Singapore. You were sorry I got so many in Ceylon. Now, I beg your pardon, but I let me remind you how I protested as strongly as I dared against sending so much spirits to Singapore when we were in London. You sent 72 gallons here. 88 degrees above proof, equal to 144 gals at 20 degrees above proof. Now, what on earth was I to do with it? Sell it at auction (part of it) for less than it cost? No, I said I must it somehow now that I have it. So I collected a few Bornean fishes. small ones entire, larger one in skin, in all about 5 gallons of spec- imens I suppose. Luckily one 12 - gallon (iron) drum was packed in London. Such i never saw before. 36 gallons I have used. 12 gallons I shall trade to Everett on his specimens @ the rate of $1.00 per gallon. & 24 gallons I shall take to Australia or elsewhere. The fishes from Borneo I shall keep, because they are long since packed & soldeered up ready to send. If you make a practice of leaving all brine & alcoholic specimens 2 or 3 months ^unopened^ at the Establishment don't be surprised if some come to grief.

  </u Why > did I telegraph ( as a serious man) that I had

"ten big orangs" when my letter states that I had only 4 that were really ? I am surprised that with your usual penetration, and as well versed as we now are in each others ways of doing things, that you did not divine the reason at once without any surprise atall. My telegram was to give you an idea of how things were opening up rather than to state exact details. While my to? orangs were not all