| Content Warning | A review of the Archive catalogue identified that some contain information that may be offensive or distressing. This includes racist language, and descriptions of historical collecting and research methods. The Museum does not condone unacceptable language and practices of the past, but has not redacted these records to maintain authenticity and facilitate discovery of records for research, including study of the history of science |
| Description | Percy Rendall, 12 letters, 1 annotated calling card, and 1 letter to Ernst Hartert from Royal Mail Steam Packet Company from London enclosing Bill of Lading; Sep 1895 -Dec 1896. Letters are from Fort Johnson, (Nyasaland), Sep 1896 -Mar 1896; Liverpool, 30 Jun 1896; Cheadle, 17 Jul 1896; Komatepoort S.A.R 21 Jul 1896; Dalry (Scotland) 1 Aug 1896, West Southerway, Exeter, 17 Aug 1896; London Aug 1896; St Helena, South Atlantic, 19 Nov 1896 and Trinidad (Spain) 24 Dec 1896. The Bill of Loading for goods sent to Randall in Trinidad is dated 5 Oct 1896
Extract from Rendall letter: "We are here in a state of siege as the 'slave traders' are raiding all round us and shooting me and carrying off women and boys under the wall of this so called Fort. I am thought to be very foolhardly to go out with my gun, but in the daylight I don’t think there is much risk, still it has given me quite a new sensation ‘that of being stalked’ and I can in some small measure gauge the feelings of my victims now!
You may hear anything, but I trust you wont, as I want to come home and visit the Zoological Museum at Tring again!
Of course this state of open warfare very much interferes with my collecting and never entered into my calculations, for if you trust the Blue Book Reports this country is peaceful and prosperous – my motto in future will be, put not your trust in Commissioners – Dont think I am grumbling, for it really is no joke here, when combined with constant small attacks of fever, little or bad food and being tied to one place I feel I have been made a fool of completely.
With kind regards, I am yours truly
Percy Rendall"
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