Showing 1–12 of 12 items
Living conditions in Barra [Amazonas, Brazil]. Doggerel about fishing: “Here we work with Net and Trigger/By the famous river Nigger” (Watertown) Puns on local words: “All the ‘redes’ (nets) possess a title because they’re Barra-nets.”
Waiting for a passage to England; clothes left at Barra to be forwarded; speculation on Spruce's plans, regards to Mr King.
Describes the disastrous burning and sinking of the "Helen" off Brazil, loss of his collections, ten days in lifeboat almost starving, rescue and return to London via a passing vessel 200 miles from Bermuda, insurance coverage for lost collections. On 6th of August, the captain said “I am afraid the ship’s on fire.” Crew spent a whole day tearing apart cargo seeking its source, but too late to save the ship. All boarded two leaky life boats, which required constant bailing. Still weak from illness; skinned his hands descending rope into boat. ARW salvaged only a small tin box containing drawings of fish and palm trees, his watch, and a few sovereigns. “The reward of my four years of privation & danger was lost.” Kept near the ship as it burned for days, hoping they would attract a rescue vessel; eventually were picked up near Bermuda. Return to England took seventy days, more than double the original passage to South America. Barely survived on meager rations of biscuits and raw pork. Update note October 1st: Arrived at Deal. “Oh! glorious day!...beef steaks & damson tart, a paradise for hungry sinners.”
Thanks for “greatly esteemed favour” of April 6th, but was “much grieved at the misfortunes which befell our good friend Alfredo.” (ARW) “What labours he performed for mankind, what trouble to lose all his work of four years; but yet his life is saved, and that is the most precious…All kind remembrances to Senhor Alfredo.”
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Mitten writes to Spruce that ARW and his wife Annie had left a week previously to travel to Switzerland.
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