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1863 LETTER OF ALEXANDER GIFFORD written to his half-brother, Patrick Gifford, in Scotland
GRANGE OF UMHLALI My Dear Brother, Yours of the 21st Jany. I have just received announcing your marriage as you say, "come at last". We all here, congratulate you, on the happy event, and puts us in mind of "Auld lang syne", when you acted as my best man, many changes have taken place since, if spared to the 11th of next month, we will be twenty seven years married, and to think that our eldest son James, started on the 16th ulto, from Durban, to take the entire charge of a large exploring and hunting party, far into the interior of Africa. Two young gentlemen, Messrs Glyn's, sons of the great London banker, and an Irish Gentleman, a Mr Osborne; they have had a very good, and expensive outfit, everything that James could think at all needful, three new Waggons complete at £100 each, 14 good oxen in each waggon at £10 each, and 50 spare oxen, the waggons completely loaded with provisions, etc. etc. 11 horses and a large travelling carriage built for the purpose, 7 large donkeys, all these were got in Durban, the same number of waggons were to be ready in Pietermaritzburg, and as many more oxen, some more horses, and donkeys; there are tents on each side of, and attached to the waggons, that on the one side for the Kaffers to sleep in, the other for stables for horses and donkeys, a tent for the two white men, cooks, and a large Marquee for themselves and James. He is to get £12 per month and £30 if he is fortunate enough to take them to the great falls, and one pound for each elephant shot by the whole party; said falls, were named by Livingston the Victoria falls, beside the Kisa Kisa mountains, on the great river Zambezi, there is none in the world, yet known, at all to be compared with them. James secured a good many native hunters, those whom he knew to be good ones and there is a whole host of Kaffers with them, he is likewise to take them to the great, or salt lake, at the very least, they will be a year away, they have a large sandy desert to cross, upwards of 200 miles, and not a drop of water, a blade of grass, a tree, or plant, of any kind; I gave James my plan, how to keep the oxen, and horses, likewise donkeys alive. I need not enter into particulars, suffice it to say, they were to change the oxen and horses, every 4 hours, and travel incessantly night and day, by compass, a trusty person going, always ahead, and to carry as much water in barrels so as to give each beast two pints every 24 hours, with a little meallie meal in the water, and stirred up with the hand while drinking, and before entering on the desert, every beast, to have two satisfying drinks of meal and water, and to travel them very easy for 4 hours and not to bring them up to their usual speed for 12 hours and that gradually. This is an outline, and he said he would adopt it, and for that purpose took a meallie mill, and sieve, they will get meallies (indian corn) to buy, or barter, from the natives. Baldwin's book of 9 years hunting, and travels in Africa, has caused a great excitement in England, he, a Mr White (comy called big scotch White, 6 feet 4 ½ ins, muscular, and proportionately made, remarkably strong, and could go through amazing fatigue, bold, cool and daring, and a dead shot, and a gentleman in every sense), a Mr Steele, James's particular friend, from Edinburgh, who called twice on you, but did not see you, he went to India, Engineer for the great railway there, and wrote for James to go to India, and offered a good salary, and to teach him fully, but we, would not consent, as James's health was not very good at the time. He went home and married a daughter of a Major MacFerson. James received a letter from him saying his wife was dead, about 4 months ago. He was very ill with Cholera, and had been insensible for 2 weeks, so the Drs told her he could not recover without any complaint whatever, she got lower, and lower, died the third day, and he remained insensible for some time after she was buried, and was not aware of it, till near 3 weeks after. We expect by this time he is in Edinburgh, and will be soon here, we have a great many of his things here, books, instruments etc. etc. under James's care, they corresponded regularly - and James - that was Baldwin, White, Steele and Gifford hunted in Co. in the Umswasy country (James was not 20 then). However, whatever Baldwin has written (and yet James says it is pretty correct), White was the hero - James says he went out with White when the rest were done up, and often he wondered how such a heavy man could walk, but to the point some of the exploits performed by Baldwin were James's mentioned in his book, still he thinks it was Baldwin that named him to the great Melinarians sons, and many others backed it out here and said he was their man, had James been more mercenary he might have had more favourable terms, for himself, still it may be worth £500 per annum if they are fortunate. When they have to go; there are 4 difft. languages, two of which he understands and can speak, fluently, and for the others he thinks he will soon be able to make himself understood. Some of the exploits named in Mr Baldwin's books, were performed by James, for instance who was it that cut down the thorn, to get one species of snake out of it, when there turned out 3 difft. kinds, it was him - all four were present at the time - being the youngest (not 20) he offered, regardless of the risk, or consequence. Mr Livingston's eldest Son arrived in Durban on the 24th, it would be a fine way for him to get to his Father with them, they would be detained in P.M.Burg a few days, so I think he will catch them. Samuel, my 4th Son, has a good situation at the harbour, works as clerk, and native interpretor. All here unite with me in kind love to yourself and better half; as Mr H sends a box from Liverpool, we wish you would send both your photographs and Mother's.
I am,
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