George Anderson, letter extracts
Letter of George Anderson to his sister giving news of his leisure activities, Body Creek, 13 August 1885:
'I was at a ball about 5 weeks ago at North Arm Section, it lasted for two nights, it was not a bad spree & another in Darwin section about 3 weeks ago for two nights also. It was a splendid affair & I think there is going to be another in the section I am in but I do not know the date of it.'
Letter of George Anderson to his sister concerning his life in the Falkland Islands, Body Creek 8 March 1889:
'There was some fine horse racing at Darwin on New Year's day, it is fine sport. I had a horse took a third prize, it is nearly the only amusement that is here except a ball or two in the winter time.'
'I have £76 lying in a bank in Stanley just now at 2 ½ per cent & and nearly other £20 ready to put in. It was only last year that the bank started up. It was the Governor that started it.'
Letter of George Anderson to his father concerning his intention to emigrate to Patagonia to start up a sheep farming business, Body Creek 10 October 1889:
'My time will be out here two months from today … I scarcely know what to do … by staying on here for other eight or ten months I would have a little more money, then if things keep on looking … well …as … they are doing over in Patagonia I might try my luck in it … So there is two or three of us might form a company & go & have a try. But that is only expressing ideas … it is rather soon to speak pointedly.'
Letter of George Anderson to his brother and sister concerning his new life in Patagonia, San Julian 21 February 1893:
'Everything is so inconvenient; there is nothing to be had nearer than Sandy Point & that is about 300 miles away. We jenerally get all our goods from England by one of the vessels belonging to the Firm Spearing & Waldron, London which take away the wool at the same time.'
Letter of George Anderson to his brother and sister describing an expedition in Patagonia, circa 1896:
'When I received your letter I was just returned from an expedition from the Gulf of St George … We were two months from the time we left here until we got back again …It was a pretty rough tripp, our provisions did not last for more than 5 weeks, then we were 3 weeks on nothing but guanaco meat (that is an animal … of which the flesh is as tough & dry as sole leather) that & tea without sugar was all we had for that time, so we were not very fat when we returned nor yet very strong but quite healthy.'
Letter of George Anderson to his father concerning the progress of his sheep farm in Patagonia, Cape Watchman 21 May 1900:
'This is the first year since I came to Patagonia that I have had a cent I could call my own … I have been getting on wonderfully well here … the stock have kept increasing pretty fair, only the puma or South American lion is a nuisance to us here, he will sometimes kill as many as 40 or 50 sheep in one night … My interest in the place … is worth £1,000. And now if spared it will increase much quicker … So I hope in the future to be able to send you home a good bit of money each year to help you along.'
