The Steam Yacht Victoria
Sunday Afternoon 5 Oclk July 18, 1897
We are again on the move; left “Meraak” (sp?) promptly at One this afternoon having got in there at 9 Oclk this AM. We, all hands went ashore for a stroll about the place, a very small village but a pretty on and so delightfully situated at the foot of immense mountains, it was quite hot on shore and we were glad to return to the ship we saw some of the most beautiful waterfalls rushing down the mountain sides three and four thousand feet in height there was a considerable body of water but it was nothing in comparison to Niagra for volume, it’s beauty consisted in its scarcely consequently it seemed to spread out like a veil being shaken int he wind, the affect was most marvelous and wonderful ~ The fiord or stream through which we sailed to visit this place was in many places quite narrow, say 300 feet wide while on each side of us were walls of solid rock towering from 3-5 thousand feet above our heads and it was in every conceivable form and shape ~ Now just imagine if you can that up amongst the walls the natives have homes, here they live from one year end to another and raise their children, it can hardly be realized nevertheless it is a fact ~ The natives are a hardy looking people just as you see them in the States and they appear quite content with these humble homes ~ I saw crowds of them to-day it being Sunday many of them had come into town for church and had rowed in a boat 14 miles to get there, I am told that they are not exact in religious matters ~ Tomorrow, Monday we shall spend at ” illegible name” where I shall mail this letter Tuesday we are to be in “Batholmen” (sp?) will tell you about them in my next ~ All hands are well and so far as I know are having their money’s worth. The days are still long little or no darkness as yet and we shall not have any until we reach England I am told ~ My Norway letters I suppose are beginning to reach you by this time, hope they may give you some pleasure. Love to you All from Affectionately Yours Father and Brother
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My Own Thoughts:
There were a couple of places in this letter where the town was illegible. Unfortunately I have no way to go research these places because I really have no where to start from.
