Thanks for Louias de Lamora|
Pouch & Colonists 14th Nov. 1888
My dear Puss
Last time I wrote to mother so it is your turn now especially as I have to thank you for your nice long letter from Ilfracomb.
This morning I got a letter from Mother written at Folkestone (15th Oct) it arrives in B.A. on the evening of the 13th Nov. which is average time. When the letters come direct to the F.C.S. I shall get them a day or so earlier for they wont have to go all around the town first.
Mother mentions having received a letter from me from Rio. I think it must be the one that I posted at Montevideo. I forgot to post it at Rio. so in a few days after she must have heard of my arrival. I expect to get a letter to that effect next week. There was also a very kind letter from Father enclosed in Mothers.
A “Pampero”, (wind storm off th plains) has just struck the house, and all the windows and doors are banging, these storms come on suddenly. With a rush and last about 20 minutes. The other day we had a dust storm, I have never seen anything like it, for about half an hour you could not see thirty yards for dust.
You know this country is as fat as the N.W. Territories, and would be very like them only there are a good many trees about here, all of which have been planted, so you cannot see very far, but about 100 miles outside. I believe you can travel great distances without seeing a sign of a tree. This is the Pampas.
There are lots of mosquitoes & flies coming now, as the weather is getting warmer and I have been bitten a good deal by the former, we poison the latter in our room as they are such a nuisance in the morning.
Twice I wrote to Mother I have not been feeling very well billious but I am better today after “2 pills” (as Carrie says supplemented by salts this morning. They do not give you many vegetables in the country at any time, and potatoes are very scarce just now, one thing tho., they make beautiful bread after the French pattern and that makes up for a lot.
The English out here are not up to much, they seem to be mostly of the shoppy or clerk family, and they give themselves any amount of airs when they get out here for some time, make a little money & become potentates.
I have only met two english women since I arrived, and from what I can see of those I meet in the train, they are about the ugliest lot I ever set eyes on. Now on the contrary the natives are nearly all good looking & have good figures, but after about twenty they get most frightfully fat (Mrs. Ruck not in it) and are old and faded at 35, to balance this they are grown up at twelve and get married at 14 or 15.
They dress very well to which is not natural to the ordinary English woman.
I have not had any of the last group of photos taken at the stores, sent me and I should much like to have one, also the photo of Eva if you think you can get another.
I am sorry for what you say about Flo Jenns, perhaps she had the blues when she wrote. the weather still continues wet and dull, but we have had not hot weather yet.
This letter may have to follow you to B.C., in that case the news will be very stale.
Much love to Mother Father Jack & yourself.
Hoping you are all qt well and are comfortable.
Your loving brother
F. O’Reilly
If in England, kind regards to Wards & all those B.C. People there seems to be an Ex-o-dus.
Love to Uncle Joe & A. Julia also other relations.
Back to list of 1888-89 lettersThis collection of letters has been digitized from an earlier transcription project and is for informational purposes only. This transcription has not been verified against the originals. Researchers interested in these letters should consult the original documents housed at the BC Archives.