Transcribe Hornaday, W. T. Letter to Ward, Henry A. (1877-09-01)

the native who prepares the skins & skels of his dead orangs for him (10 Rs each). He would simply pay this party to prepare the Platymista. He won’t take any trouble about shipping boxes. Sykes & Co must do all that. He could give no idea of what he would change for the P. skins & skeletons, as he never did anything with such things. Had no idea what it would cost to get them. There is a party – H. Meyer & Co – who can furnish good methylated spirits by the cask at “very cheap rates,” so they saudm but were then unable to tell me the exact rate. He could get spirits of them. It costs 11 Rs. per doz qts at retail. There seem to be several parties trying for P. gangetica in Calcutta, and they are very hard to get. The fisherman said they were offered 25 Rs. each. Well, now I must close. We must get an elephant now within ten days, – unless we get a fresh dose of the fever. If so I will throw up the sponge. Am very glad you write me as often as you do. Any memo relating to the progress of the Establishment is always of the greatest interest to me. But tell me. From Singapore do you want me to go to Borneo or Sumatra? You have mentioned my going to S. several times of late, which surprised me as I had thought all along I was to go to Borneo. The books I want are “Sherman’s Memoirs” (if it does not cost too much) The illustrated edition of Tennyson, such as Mr Lucas has, Longfellow, same style, & “Morals of Abou Ben Adhem”. Also 30 brass cartridge-cases for Maynard Rifle “1873”, No. 40. Oh how I wish I had known it in time; I would have had you send me a barrel of beans and a barrel of dried apples by Capt Lucas to Madras. They would be worth their weight in Rupees to me in Borneo. But it’s too late now. I don’t know the parties in Singapore to whom the spirits was sent. Have written Howards to find out. This leaves me in reasonable health. Love to all the family, Very sincerely yours Wm T. Hornaday