Rumuruti
Laikipia B.E.A.
Sat.
A.M. Feb. 16’07
My
dear Mama:
We
just had a letter from Mr. Downing last eve stating that he
expects
to leave for America either Mar. 1 or 15 & said if we had
any
thing to send he’d take it for us & mail it there. Now we
are
sending a small box containing a leather beaded belt, a ball
made of
ostrich plumes and tied onto the end of a spear, 2 lion claws,
two
cowry shells used to trim ladies dresses or skins, 2 strings
of beads
worn by natives in all parts. The little pink ones Agnes H.
got from
a native girl & gave them to me. We’d send more but
postage
here is so much - 25 cents or more on this package. The other
string
Agnes herself had & gave me. The long narrow stick is a
wrist
ornament worn by Masai men. The leather is tied about the
wrist &
fastened with a bead or some such way. I’m not sure if the
belt is
worn by men or women. Mulungit had it & we got it of him.
The
lion claws we tho’t would be nice polished & mounted. We
haven’t much on hand now. If we had only known sooner we’d
have
gathered up a few things. If you don’t get the box of seeds I
shall wish I’d have waited & sent with him. Don’t suppose
you have them yet.
Now
among other places he intends visiting in the interests of the
work
is Naperville, now I wish either you or papa would feel like
going to
meet him. I don’t suppose he’ll stay in Am. very long. Goes
mostly to meet Mrs. D. & help her back with the children.
You
will of course send him whatever postage he pays on the box.
Don’t
think there’ll be any duty. Should there be he’ll likely let
you
know. I’ll give his address, thats I suppose its his address,
it’s
hers since in America. “Uniontown, Ohio Belmont Co. c/o John
Caldwell.” Be sure & put the county on for there are
several
‘Uniontowns’.
I
hadn’t intended writing with this mail but since we’re sending
these things I tho’t I’d better write.
Had
a letter & some pictures from Lora last night. Elfrieda
Lehmans
letter came too. and one from Kate Sower who was on her way
home to
be married to that Mr. Phillips near Walnoits across the road
from
Hoffmans.
Nothing
specially unusual has been doing. Sub. Com. Ainsworth, wife
& 9
yr. old son have been visiting here & we had lunch with
them on
Tues. & yesterday P.M. they were here to tea. She is a
sister of
Peter Cameron Scott the founder of this mission. They leave in
April
for a few months vacation in England. They take their son
&
leave him to be educated. No definite news about Hurlburt
&
Starrs. They (Starrs) were visiting at the Knapps. Don’t know
if
Miss Doehring has come or not. We can’t get a word from the
people
there. Mr. Riebe wrote that Hurlburt has permission to go to
any of
the 8 tribes but one but doesn’t say anything else. Mr.
Downing
wrote that Mr. Haigh & Miss Boehning were to be married
the next
night. (Feb. 6.) But I’ve written almost to every individual
&
I’ve sent Xmas presents & sent Lora’s letter &
announcement Card & they’ve not so much as returned them.
I
don’t know whether to feel hurt or whether to just let it go.
If I
only knew why they don’t write. Whether they are too
busy &
just neglect or whether they don’t want to. They might at
least
drop us just a line about themselves & return what I sent
them. It’s taught me a lesson. I’ll never again send them
anything to
return. I only wish we had our books that we left there for
the
children to read. I’ve written Agnes about them and she may
send
them with Hurlburt.
Mulungit’s
having troubles of his own. The people at his Kraal want to
move
abut 2 or 3 days from here & he wants his stock &
mother to
stay here. We don’t know what they’ll do he’s gone all day
today to arrange matters if he can. His mother would starve so
far
away for he gets lots of food for her & if she went away
he
couldn’t see her oftener than once in two months or so.
Mr.
Ainsworth shot a grantii, a species of deer, and sent us a
back
quarter it’s so fine. Had a little for supper, but
having
tea so late 5:30, it was still later when we got supper and
with the
mail waiting I couldn’t eat much so all I ate was a piece of
the
meat fried in onion and the tea - we’re used to corn coffee
&
English people have tea very strong - so taking it all
together made
my eyes blur and after we were in bed I felt O so sick. J. was
restless - wanted a drink & there was no water in & no
lantern here to get any so just had to get along without. I
was
awful glad ‘twas bed time. I finally got to sleep but didn’t
rest much. Head ached very hard but feels about alright this
morning. A little shakey is all.
Our
Am. friend that I wrote about some time ago a Mr. Sewell from
Boston,
sent us a big package of papers - Colliers, Magazines Life
&
McClures. Very nice of him. Said if we wanted more he’d be
glad
to send them. We were glad for them.
Mr.
Ainsworth gave us permission to shoot the hippo so if he’s
still
about when the moon gets a little larger we’ll try to get him.
New
moon last night I believe. We have no calendar with moons on
for
this year.
Mrs.
Johnston from Machakos is sending us Ralph Conners story “The
Doctor”. It comes in a paper they get from home. It’s very
interesting. Have had about 8 chaps. I wish stamps grew on
trees. We’re always out and so often they haven’t any at the
Sta. If we
get sort of fixed up a bit and don’t have so many expenses
then
I’ll send to Nakuru for quite a bunch at once.
Mr.
Rhoad killed a 12 ft. boa constrictor in their garden lately.
It’s
surprising to see how few snakes we have about here. Lots of
lizards, several different kinds. Some are real pretty. I’ve
gotten so I don’t mind them. They are so entirely different
from
ours at home. Not nearly so disagreeable.
I
wonder if there are still any of my old “School news” abut. If
so would you send them. I want especially the drawings from
them. I’m no good at drawing and I’d like to give the boys a
little
work of that line. Think I’ll mention it to Cora Ott next time
I
write.
Sara’s
& Albert’s pictures are very good aren’t they. Wish Mr. R.
would send the films he promised to then I’d fix & send
you
some of us. But O it’s awful - but you’d get more of an idea
how
J. looked & felt for you can even see his feelings. &
then
‘twould be worth something to have the picture taken on the
day.
But
I must stop now & get things ready. Hope you’ve sent the
little arithmetic by the time you get this. With heaps of love
your
own
Florence
[written
on back] Downing coming, contents of box he brings.
P.S. If you should want to go to Naperville to see Mr.
Downing you could
write Albert Staff or Paul Mayer to let you know when Mr. D.
would be
there. Wish you could meet him. He is next to Mr. H. in
importance
out here. We all like him very much. Wish you could see the
whole
family but I don’t suppose that’s possible.
Floss
This
may get off on a boat sooner than Downings & at any rate
you’ll
get it some weeks before he gets there so don’t expect the
package
too soon.
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