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

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Hornaday Orient Expedition_1878_12_22_l.jpg

I have which I am glad to say is really a splendid use. 
Mr C. advised me not to get into such a financial corner
again in Australia.
 "Await advices for Australia." The next Australian Steamer
is Jan 7th and the next a whole month later. There is a
Dutch mail steamer going somewhere between the two, but it
</s was > does not touch between Port Darwin & Sydney. It does
touch at P. D. The Australian Str does not touch at Port Darwin
in Maryborough. To get to latter you know I would have to go to Bris-
bane. Now there is European mail to arrive (Jan 2nd) between
this & the departure of the Australian Str. If I receive not both
money & advices that I will be booked to wait until some
time about Feb. 7th But I would manage
to put in the time here to good advantage . My board 
costs me $2. per day is $50. per month. Nothing atall decent is in the
least respectable can be had for less than that now. Am going
to trade a 4 ft. Mias skeleton to Dr </s Putie > Dennys for a live
Python 21-22 feet in length, which I will kill & both skin &
skeletonize. It may seem to you at first glance to be a dear bar-
gain for us. My reasons for believing it will pay </s and > are
these: We have mias skeletons, ones too, & caught any
number of others @ $25 each whenever we want them. By getting
the snake we can put skin & skel. in the H. Collection at
once at a good figure I think, & thus realizing on an extra mias
skeleton at once. Besides the big snake will give to the
H. Coll. won't it. Am I right? Dr. D. was once offered $100. in
cash for his snake (alive), but that is neither here nor there. It
is a one & no mistake.
 Don't keep me too long in Australia (My time will be up in
April) for I can tell you I am getting somewhat tired of knock-
ing about from pillar to post, and living for months on because I can't afford more. Thats what I did in
Borneo, now that I look back upon it. I arrived here nearly bare-
footed & otherwise dilapidated & seedy. Wore out 2 new pairs of
boots ($13.00) in the Borneo swamps in 4 months. I am today
going to spend about $8. of my precious $50. in having fine
photograph taken of my wonderful baby orang to </s fo > furnish
a striking & unique </s fine > illustration for our Book. The little mias
is simple the wonder of all beholders, & even the natives all say he is
the handsomest & of all they ever saw. Can't take him
home & am going to send him at once as a present to Theobald who
wants a baby mias very much. Of course all expenses with the
"Old Man" (mias) go down in my private account, not much all total.
W. T. H.

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I have which I am glad to say is really a splendid use. Mr C. advised me not to get into such a financial corner again in Australia.

     "Await advices for Australia." The next Australian Steamer

is Jan 7th and the next a whole month later. There is a Dutch mail steamer going somewhere between the two, but it </s was > does not touch between Port Darwin & Sydney. It does touch at P. D. The Australian Str does not touch at Port Darwin in Maryborough. To get to latter you know I would have to go to Bris- bane. Now there is European mail to arrive (Jan 2nd) between this & the departure of the Australian Str. If I receive not both money & advices that I will be booked to wait until some time about Feb. 7th But I would manage to put in the time here to good advantage . My board costs me $2. per day is $50. per month. Nothing atall decent is in the least respectable can be had for less than that now. Am going to trade a 4 ft. Mias skeleton to Dr </s Putie > Dennys for a live Python 21-22 feet in length, which I will kill & both skin & skeletonize. It may seem to you at first glance to be a dear bar- gain for us. My reasons for believing it will pay </s and > are these: We have mias skeletons, ones too, & caught any number of others @ $25 each whenever we want them. By getting the snake we can put skin & skel. in the H. Collection at once at a good figure I think, & thus realizing on an extra mias skeleton at once. Besides the big snake will give to the H. Coll. won't it. Am I right? Dr. D. was once offered $100. in cash for his snake (alive), but that is neither here nor there. It is a one & no mistake.

    Don't keep me too long in Australia (My time will be up in

April) for I can tell you I am getting somewhat tired of knock- ing about from pillar to post, and living for months on because I can't afford more. Thats what I did in Borneo, now that I look back upon it. I arrived here nearly bare- footed & otherwise dilapidated & seedy. Wore out 2 new pairs of boots ($13.00) in the Borneo swamps in 4 months. I am today going to spend about $8. of my precious $50. in having fine photograph taken of my wonderful baby orang to </s fo > furnish a striking & unique </s fine > illustration for our Book. The little mias is simple the wonder of all beholders, & even the natives all say he is the handsomest & of all they ever saw. Can't take him home & am going to send him at once as a present to Theobald who wants a baby mias very much. Of course all expenses with the "Old Man" (mias) go down in my private account, not much all total. W. T. H.