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1865 LETTER OF ALEXANDER GIFFORD written to his half-brother, Patrick Gifford, in Scotland
GRANGE OF UMHLALI Dear Brother, You would see by the paper I sent you, the death of my fourth son, Samuel, he died in Durban on Saturday morning the 26th of August at quarter past 12 a.m. His complaint was by the Dr in attendance considered to be congestion of the brain, but I had a neighbour to see him with whom we have been long intimate, a large sugar planter, a Dr Addison, who is considered decidedly the first and best Dr in Natal. He differed from the other, considered it to be a growing in the brain, and the only hope was in extreme measures, these were adopted, but too late; I had his head opened and the brain taken out, and assisted in so doing, found it exactly as Dr A said, in the centre of the brain a growing, or tumour of the size and shape of a small hen egg. Dr A came as a friend, not for pay, and he considered, it had been commenced a good while, likely a fall or a blow on the head had bursted some of the small blood vessels in the brain, which would commence the growing or tumour. I then recollected of him buying at the auction a very superior horse for £15 or £16, worse horses than him, when quiet, were sold at £50 - but none could ride him; two Hottentots led him, one on every side, with long rheins (this is used here, in place of a rope, or line, very strong and made of Buffalo hides, quite soft). He was taken to his stable at the Point and the next morning early, got some of the Navies to help, the tide being out, ringed him for sometime on the sands, and when he could not get him, bucked over his head, then reared up, and came right over on his back, leaped off when he found him over the ...., then made him ride with him on his back. He came here several times in a very short time on him (40 miles). He told me that he reared once with him when he was not expecting it, and struck him on the forehead with his head. On learning this I caused him to sell the horse. I lately learned that he got a very severe toss, lighting on his head from a horse of the Manager's, Mr Taylor, before he got his feet in the stirrups. I doubt not but that these commenced it. However I have good authority for saying he was a good steady sober boy, was a general favourite, and particularly with those he came in contact with in business, and all the workmen, both white and black liked him, and would have done anything for him, and a large number of Navies are not easy to manage. However, I have good reasons for thinking that his last end was peace, through our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Chirst. When the Contractor failed Mr Jackson, London, and his Brother-in-Law, Albert Taylor, Esq., the Manager left, he gave Samuel a present, and a sealed letter, giving him a character which might be equaled but not easily surpassed. We do not know if Mr T recommended him to the Government or not, at all events they appointed him Manager and his death was much regretted by them - and very generally in Durban as was shown at the funeral, many came, who I forgot to have asked, workingmen and upwards. This shows how vain are all terrestrial things, and fleeting - today we may be in robust health, and tomorrow numbered with the dead. We ought to put the question seriously, are we prepared. Nothing but the consolations of religion can give us peace, when hovering on the brink of an eternal world, our Saviour is all sufficient if we come to him in humble believing faith. We duly received your letter, and was glad to see both Mrs G and chits were doing well. James is far away in the interior with his Waggon, and Kaffers, no white person with him, was meaning to go upwards of 2,000 miles, further than any of the two previous trips, a hunting and trading trip, he is more than six months gone, we are anxious about him on account of the wars all round. Mrs G and the family all unite with me in kind love to yourself, Mrs G, and family.
I am Dear Brother
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