2110-1-9-1

High Commissioner's Office, Johannesburg,

Jan: 7::1902

My dear old Nan,

I was delighted to get your letter on Saturday. I had also letters from Uncle Willie & Maud [SB blue note, March a cousin], and a most brilliant effusion from the Bird, full of epigrams and cynicism. I had a letter from Mother the same day quite enthusiastic about Port Elizabeth. I think they are all enjoying themselves very much. People seem very kind to them, and I really believe it is going to

do them good. Tell Aunt Kate that her shortbread duly arrived this morning, and that I am looking forward greatly to devouring it.

I have not a great deal of news this week. Hugh Wyndham has had to go down to Bloemfontein for 2 months, so we have offered his room in our house to Charlie Murray. I had the bad luck on Saturday to have another turn of fever & dysentery - the disease which attacks all newcomers to this place.

I seem to be especially liable to it, perhaps because I am so busy. I am better today, but with as much fushion as a kitten. I hate to be a day away from work, for my work is so wide and complicated, that unless one has every thread in one's hands and is constantly watching them, they get out of order. B-P. came to lunch today - rather a second-rate little man, I think.

[ST annotation in blue, Lord] Brooke has been off on a visit to Gen. French, & turned up today. I have finished my 'land settlement' article. Mother has not yet forwarded to me any parcels, probably meaning to

keep them as a hostage till I come to Port Elizabeth.

I am glad you enjoyed Stirling. It is a beautiful town and I always had a great affection for it. I envy you the snow and the old-fashioned Xmas, that my uncle wrote about. This climate is superb, but it takes some time to get used to it. I had a pathetic note from the Governor of Natal the other day in which he said he had not been out of bed for a fortnight, that his wife was ill, his 2 children were ill, the coachman and nurse were ill, & that two horses had died. Being a man from Invernesshire, he finished up with 'O why left I my hame.' A former clerk of

Richard Brown's [a cousin] wrote to me the other day asking for a job. I am trying to get him one in the Treasury.

I have started to drive Alan Breck in the cart: he goes like wildfire. The Ribblesdales arrived last night - Lady R. is a strong pro-Boer, but I believe is being rapidly converted by a few visits to