Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela
31 May 1898.
My dear Mr Hartert;
Will you have thought that I am swallowed by the Revolution in Venezuela? I have indeed been silent for alo a long time but I am still in the field after birds. The last three months have not been very fruitfull and everything has seemed to work against me and I have accomplished very little. In the first place—immediately after going to Caicara I sent to Bolívar for money. Dalton & Co., did their part but the package was rifled and I remained at Caicara without funds to get away to get on up the river or back into the mountains. In fact I was in such hard straits that I had to pawn one of my guns and my watch for food. Then later, especially for the last month, after I had received funds, the revolution assumed such an ugly phase that all work was stopped and I consider myself fortunate in that I was not robbed of my guns and entire outfit. The forced idleness day after day gave me the "blues" and I did not even write letters. They would have been blue—and laden with a part of the feaver I have had.
Day before yesterday I unexpectedly had the opportunity to come down the river in one of the government boats carrying troops.We arrived this evening
^ I came down to get fresh supplies and make another effort to reach A(illegible text)es and perhaps get above the falls. However I do not expect to be able to reach San Fernando de Atabapo before the beginning of the next dry season.
I have brought with me about 790 bird skins—seven boxes—a few nests and eggs and a very small lot of lepidoptera.
There has been no rain as yet at Caicara; everything is parched
