Letter
16 Pages
Transcription: Tor Martin Leknes
Translation: Francesca Nichols
Transcription
Hotel Albert Alger Africa <14/1 23>
Vi fik i dag dit brev (pr. Alicante), – og det glædet os meget
at höre fra dig. Ja det gaar vist paa et "rùs" med
posten, – jeg har sendt flere breve hjem, – Engel endnù
flere, – som er bortkomne; – jeg sendte ogsaa Kari og Arnold
en bùnke smaa albùms med billeder fra Kapri, Neapel
og Rom, – de er ogsaa bortkomne ùnderveis; postvæse-
stjæler alt, som kan have den ringeste værd (ofte stjæler
de breve, bare for frimærkernes baade brùgte og ùbrugte skyld); – saaledes
boede vi nogle dage i en araberby, som heder Croùbs –
– omtrent midt i Africa, – men ikke et eneste kort eller
brev, som jeg skrev – derfra lillejulaften er fremkommet. (I Croùbs
blev jeg ogsaa frastjaalet mit barber skelett; – det har nù
hændt mig to gange paa veien). – Jeg forstaar, at man
maa rekomandere alle breve og alt, hvad man sender
i posten. Ja nù bor vi altsaa her i Afrika og har
det ganske godt, jeg plages jo rigtignok af malariaen
– feberen er ofte slem, – men værre er bronkitten, og et
ùtaaleligt "sting", som aldrig vil give sig, – og en hoste, som
jeg aldrig har havt maken til, – den helves toùren til
Hvalöerne bragte mig en slem forkjölelse, som jeg vist
aldrig blir fri; – ogsaa dertil kom de hundredevis af
Tekst vertikalt til venstre: Hils konsùl Mohr eller frùen om dù træffer dem – jeg tror ikke det nytter at skrive
om Engels reisepenge – de var nok iberegnede i kjöbet af billederne
myggestik, som jeg fik I Italia, og som bragte mig
denne feberen. – Engel fik aarebetændelse af den
og maatte ligg i ca. 3 ùger, – og jeg, som travede rùndt
i alle mùseer med feberen rasende i blodet, – jeg blev
en dag saa sved, ellers sveder jeg ikke siden jeg fik malariaen, at jeg trede ind i en kold stenkirke,
og satte mig paa en stenbænk og lyttede til den sövn-
dyssende katholske messe, til jeg sovnede, – og vaag-
nede med en frygtelig frost, – maatte hjem og iseng,
og saa blev det til bronkit; – heldigvis traf jeg en
snild tysktalende apotheker, som gav os god medicin
– særlig for malariaen; – men bronkitten og hosten
lader sig ikke kùrere, – jeg har hostet slik, at jeg sikkert
har holdt alle mine hotelnaboer vaakne, – og jeg
har ofte troet, at mine lùnger skùlde vrængt sig,
eller at jeg endog skulde hostet op mine "ùdödelige sjæl".
Jeg faar takke til, at asthmaen har holdt sig vække.
Men denne stadige brand for brystet med "sting" er ikke
stort bedre, thi Asthmaen har da sine hvilestùnder, hvor
jeg er helt fri; – men dette evige "pirk" irriterer i læng-
den, selv om det ikke er saa smertefuldt, som Asthmaen.
Her er imidlertid sol og sommer og blomster paa mark og
trær; saa hjælper det ikke at være her, saa hjælper intet, –
Ja her er deiligt – særig om natten, – palmelùnde midt i
byen alle steder; – palmeblade paa flere meters længde vifter
vifter og vrænger i sölvgrönt om gaslygterne, saa at
skyggerne gaar op og ned over de hvide hùsvægge
som dönningernes skygger paa en lys havbùnd.
Gaterne gaar i zikzak opover den tildels bratte
by, og næsten alle gater er prydede med tætte rækker
af ca. 6 meter höie myrte lignende trær, som stadig
klippes; – mange gater er bare trapper, – og det er rart
at se æsler (saa overlæssede, at man kùnde tro, at
ryggen maatte gaa af), – at se dem kravle op over
de ofte meget bratte trapper. Paa siderne af disse
"trappegater" er der ofte smaa vidùnderlige parker
med tusindvis af roser og andre blomstrende trær, –
bananpalmer med ùmodne bananer – daddelpalmer
med modne dadler, som skinner saa gùlt i det
grönne – (de er næsten modne); – og i disse smaa-
parker, som ligger like bratt som trapperne, er der
cementerede spadsergange i svingninger opover, næsten
som hos mig paa Sandalstrand, – ja endog "torvegarer"
like bratte som mine; men det er ikke græs, de
er bevoksede med (eller dannede af), det er smaa kak-
tùsplanter – (som klippes), – de er saa grönne at man
kùnde tro, de var "malede" – og de har hist og her brand-
gùle blomster; – og midt i disse "torvgarer" er der af og
til "indfældt" marmorbænker med "mosaik"-prydede
ryg- og sidestykker, hvor man kan hvile sig ùnder et
træ med hængende frugt- og blomsterklaser, – (mange
trær har frugt og blomst paa samme tid), – det er svært
sjelden at se et aflövet træ, – det er da som regel af
nordisk oprindelse, – saaledes flere morel- og kirsebær-
trær, som staar med 3–4 af de sidste löv fra hösten, og samtidig har
de faaet de förste hvide blomster. Forresten er det jo vanske-
ligt at sige, hvad tid her er höst; thi hvert træ tager
sin höst, naar det finder for gidt, – saaledes er apelsin-
og mandarin frugterne endnù ikke modne; – vi blev idag
kjendt med en araber frùe, – som viste os rùndt i sin
have, hvor vi fik plùkke mandariner; – hùn ristede paa
mandarintrærne for at de bedst modne skùlde falde ned
til os. Hùn var halvaraber eller ¼ næsten fransk – og derfor sin mands gjevnbyr-
dige kone, – som kùnde gaa frit om og tale med hvem,
hùn vilde, uden at skjule sit ansigt; – de var rike folk
og havde et lidet palads med en vidùnderlig have, – rent
et lidet paradis; – til slùt viste hùn os ogsaa sine (eller
rettere sin mands) haremsdamer; – vi fik titte ind til
dem gjennem "fængselets" gitter – de sjùlte straks sine
ansigter, men da de saa, at vi ikke var arabere slog
II
de straks silken fra ansigtet; – thi det er kùn for
araberne de skjùler sine yndigheder, – en europæer maa
gjerne se deres ansigt – (ja gjerne ogsaa maven og de vakre
bryster). Vi syntes det var en ren oplevelse, – dette at
blive kjendt med en rig araberfamilie; det var ogsaa
rent tilfældigt; – thi ellers er araberne meget indeslut-
tede overfor eùropæerne, (de hùsker vel paa, at de blev jaget
ùd av Spanien, – og desuden er de særlig lidet glad i fransk-
mendene – siden krigen, som de deltog i –(uden kanske at
have faaet noget vederlag) – , de elsker derimod tyskerne,
som behandlede deres saarede soldater saa godt i fangen-
skabet, medens folket selv sùltede i Tyskland). Vi er bleven
kjendt med en hel del arabere (frugthandlere), og de
kommer altid hen til os paa gaten og hilser os med et
kraftigt haandslag og kalder os for venner; – men sligt
er jo almindeligt her; – denne oplevelse i dag derimod var
rent tilfældig; fordi vi holdt paa at forvilde os ind
i en have, – da vi hadde taget feil af en privat vei og hovedveien
En vakker araberpige kom da og förte os op gjennem en ren
labyrint af mosaikbelagte trapper og op til frùen, hvem vi
dog ikke kùnde tale stort med, da jeg kan lidet fransk.
Her paa hotellet er en spansk pige, som steller vort værelse,
men hùn taler saa fort, at jeg kommer ikke langt med min
spansk, – og naar jeg beder hende tale langsomt, blir hùn
fornærmet og siger, at hùn har det travelt, – her er ogsaa
en spansk tjener (halvspaniol), som er meget elskværdig, men
han er ogsaa "kort for hodet", naar det gjælder at tale
Tekst vertikalt til venstre: Dere har vel faaet mit usedvanligt lange "skriveprodùct" fra Italia?
langsomt; – men han blir ikke fornærmet eller uforskam-
met som piken, – han siger bare: "aa det er sligt deiligt
veir ude i dag, – Dere maa ùd at spadsere", eller, hvis det
er om kvelden, siger han – "gid dere maa faa en "meget
god nat." – Vi har truffet flere spaniere, og de er alle
meget vridne og "hovne", (stolt som en spanier siger man jo)
"at være spansk paa det" – siger man jo ogsaa, – jeg kvier
mig næsten paa at komme til Spanien. Vi blir her i
iallefald et par maaneder, – til det er overstaaet med
Engels nedkomst (og lidt længer ogsaa til hùn er helt
sterk igjen); hùn har skrevet til sin mor, at hùn vil faa (kjöpe)
med sig hjem et indfödt barn fra Africa, – hendes mor
veed nemlig intet om "tilstanden" jeg tænker hùn forstaar spöken. Fra Cicilien (paa skib-
bet over til Africa) havde vi sterk sjögang, og hùn var da
svært syk – "ristingen" paa togene gjennem örken- og fjeldland
var heller ikke god for hende, – derfor slog vi os ned her; da
vi ikke turde reise over Middelhavet til Spanien med hende.
Naar vi skal videre, – tænker jeg paa at leie en flyvemaskin
og flyve saa langt vest, at vi er lige syd for sydenden
af Spanien, saaa det blir kort vei over den "krappe" sjö
til Spanien. Togene her gaar med en helvedes fart, – verre
end i Amerika og Frankrige, – saa de "rister" frygtelig, – vi
havde ogsaa et togùheld paa veien: – stempelstangen, som
svinger lokomotivets hjùl spratt af i den ene ende og ned i jorden saa
toget braastansede; – og vi maatte sidde 2–3 timer midt
i örkenen; – indtil et andet tog kom og hjalp os videre. man satte et apparat paa telegraflinjen
Ørkenen er forresten ikke saa ùinteressent, som man skulde
tro; – næsten alting er rödt; röde sandfjelde med æld-
gamle ùnderlige kaktuser, hvis eiendommelige lyse grönne
farver med röde frùgter staar herligt til det röde landskab; – enkelte steder snoede der
sig ogsaa en blaa elv i dybet omgiven af bratte röde skræn-
ter, – selv sanden kan være interessent, naar den ligger
i bölger – som et störknet "Röde hav" – (den er dog ikke
alle steder röd). – Et snefjeld stikker op hist og her og
frisker synet i den brændende örkensol eller lyser om
natten i maaneskinnet i fosfor sjær. Af og til antager
sanden ogsaa ùnderlige former, – rene sneskavler af sand-
bjerg – ; jeg vilde nödig være ùde i en sandstorm og blive
begraven ùnder et sandbjerg – eller (bare en sandhaùg var
nok), – da er det bedre at tage en flyvemaskine, – den gaar
saa höit; at den ùndgaard sandstormen. – Ja, vi har det
altsaa godt; bare det staar vel over med Engel, og jeg blir fri
bronkitten og "stinget"; – og vi saa havde penge, – vi er nemlig ganske
<"blank"> nù; – vi har faaet leiet et værelse paa en födsels-
klinik, – det staar ledigt for paakommende tilfælde, og
jeg skal faa ligge der ogsaa, – da Engel ikke kan et ord
fransk. Det blir frygtelig dyrt. – Vi har allerede kjöbt
ind barnetöi. Vi har et prægtigt værelse her paa hottellet, –
Varmt vand; saa meget vi vil brùke – (egen krane) og
vi vil beholde rùmmet, – til Engel er færdig paa klinikken.
da er det godt for hende at have rigeligt varmt vand
til barnet. Engel vil nemlig ikke være mere end höist
14 dage paa klinikken, – da det er saa dyrt der; – her er jo
kùn private klinikker, og de har hverken stats- eller komù-
netilskùd som i Norge, – og da er det rimeligt, at det blir
dyrt, – det er ogsaa kùn de rike franskmænd (eller rettere deres
kvinder), som tager ind paa slike klinikker, – araberkvinderne
"svöber" selv sine börn – som jomfrù Maria og de andre bibel-
ske kvinder. – Disse araberne minder jo i mangt og
meget om jöderne: – deres tilhyllede kvinder. (som Re-
bekka der "tilhyllede sit ansigt, da hùn saa sin vordende Isak mand")
og deres omskjærelse, (jeg skal faa se paa en slik handling næste
uke); endvidere deres afsky for flesk, som de ikke en-
gang tör beröre og deres fodside silkekjortler, der
nesten altid er hvide, (dog har de ofte en "pùrpùr" violet silkedragt
ùnder, som viser i brystet, og naar de stikker armene ud
af kjortelens sidespalter). De gaar næsten altid barbent,
og damerne har folderige silkebùkser, som gaar nedom kjorte-
len (som en pose: slik illustrasjon) ùndertiden gaar bukse og kjortel i et.
Mændene har vistnok ikke bùkser; thi ved landeveiene kan
man ofte se dem "hùke sig ned" og ùdföre alskens nödtörft,
(uden at lade sig anfegte af de forbipaserende), det er vel af
den grùnd, de har faaet ord paa sig for at være ùrenslige,
men det kommer deraf, at de lever nu som for 1000 aar siden,
og da havde vi ikke nödtörft huser i Norge heller, – og rens-
ligheden forövrigt – stod vel neppe saa hoit som hos araberne.
De förer sig med en rolig værdighed, – naar de ikke blir sint;
men da er der ikke langt til kniven. Her er mange rövere,
som egentlig bor i örkenen, – men som spadserer ùgenert om i
gaterne som andre gentlemen; – saa fortalte en arber mig, og han
advarede mig mod at lade sine slegtninge se min store penge-
bok – (jeg maatte anskaffe mig en stor bok af hensyn til det store pass)
(og de mange millioner, som jeg hadde i Østerrike). –––
III
Her er meget, som er malerisk, – men jeg har vanskeligt
for at kùnne male noget her, – motiverne er ùmùlige at
afskjære, og det værste er alle fattig-gùttene, – fantegùtterne
og anden pöbel, som det vrimler af rundt fremmedfolk her.
I Venezia fortalte jeg Dere om ùngerne, som rev skisseboken ùd
af hænderne for at se, hvad jeg tegnede, – men det var dog i en
slags velvillig gemytlighed, – her er de ondskabsfulde – og jeg
er bange for, at jeg kom til at slaa ihjæl en af disse mùlat ùn-
gerne, om jeg skulde male noget her, – de kaster store kaktusblade
paa en – (og de er piggede verre end et pindsvin); – et hvert saar
– selv det ùbetydeligste – blir til en "ulægelig sprùnge" her i syden.
Det fik jeg föle i Rom, hvor vi tok ind paa et dansk hotel, – vi
traf en norsk familie, som anbefalte os dette hotel ("Dinesen")
(der traf vi 3 norske malere). Da vi skulde reise fra hotellet,
vilde jeg bære all vore bagage op til jernebanestationen og sætte det
paa depoet, til jeg havde det alt samlet; – men hotellet vilde
ikke tillade mig dette, – de skùlde besörge baade os og vor
bagage i drosche til stationen; – jeg satte da alt vort töi (21
kolli) paa et sted samlet i vestibulen og viste det til porteren
som paatog at ordne alt; – men da vi kom til stationen mang-
lede en koffert, – og der mangled 5–6 minnutter til toget skùl-
de gaa; – jeg lod Engel og de andre staa igjen; fik fat i en
drosche og tok römmerne fra den italienske kùsk og kjörte
som rasende til hotellet; (jeg har ofte ærgret mig over italiner-
es mishandling af hestene; men den gang var jeg ikke bedre selv.)
Da vi kom til hotellet sprang jeg af og skùlde i hast åbne de
store glasdöre; – der havde en af de reisende sat sin kùffert
bag dören, – og jeg, som rendte paa med fùld fart, havde nær
gaaet tvers gjennem glasdören, – det regnede med tusendvis
af glasstùmper, og jeg skar den ene haand stygt op paa
mange steder, – særlig var en finger stygt skamferet lige ind
paa benet. Vertskabet kom til og gjorde tùsend ùndskyld-
ninger for portierens forglemmelse; – de havde opdaget det straks
og havde sendt kufferten pr. express til stationen. – Jeg bad
dem "ryke og reise" – og skjældte dem hùden fuld og lovede, at
jeg skulde advare alle nordmænd for dette hotell, – og saa
sprang jeg i vognen og kjörte i galop til stationen, mens jeg
blödde som en kalv; – og vi naaede at komme paa toget i
sidste minut; – der tog en snild herre sig af mig og viklede
min haand ind i bomùld (man skulde altid have med sig
slig renset bomuld – "borvat", naar man reiser). Naa, dette blev jo
en lang historie, – det var bare det, jeg vilde sagt, at det tok lang
tid, för det blev godt igjen, (saar gror kan hænde ogsaa senere,
naar man har malaria). – Jeg veed ikke, om jeg i et tidligere
brev har fortalt om vort besök paa "Helvedes skorstein", (Vesùv),
hvor vi saa ned i "afgrùnden", – hvorfra opsteg svovelrög og flam-
mer, – Engel var særlig greben ved at höre "de fordömtes
grùelige jammer". Per og jeg indaande svovelröiken med
stort velbehag, – den gjorde godt for vore daarlige lùnger,–
medens Hjördis, som aldrig har havt asthma eller bronkit
vilde kvæles. Engel ogsaa – det var verre end at pùste ind röken fra et ovnsrör, sa hùn.
Per og jeg havde gjerne dvælet der i længere tid og
nydt den herlige lùft, medens vi ventede paa et ordentligt ùdbrud;
men saa kom der en snekave – (den eneste vi har havt paa tùren)
og det bekom ikke vùlkanens mave vel, – den gùlpede op en
ren storm af svoveldamp og flammer, – og denne storm tok
hatten af Hjördis og förte den ùd for de bratte skrænter af lava
og aske, – der ingen folk kan gaa, – hùn vilde da gjerne ned
hùn har gaaet barhodet like til nù for et par dage siden da Per kjöbte hende ny hat
igjen snarest, – som rimelig var, – og hùn sörgede slig paa
hatten, at hùn satte sig igjen paa en restaùrant og stùrede,
medens vi besögte Pompei og stolprede om mellem rùinerne og
de med "kampesten" belagde gater, – (der nærmest lignede et
sætertùn i Jölster, hvor de större stener faar lige ifred, –
slig, som de har ligget, siden morænen lagde dem dèr), – jeg
kan ikke forstaa at den tids "overkùltiverede" mennesker kunde
nöie sig med en slig "ùr" til at gaa paa – (stenene viste sterk
slitage), – en svensk dame, som havde værelse ved siden af os paa
hotellet, brækkede ogsaa benet der. – At fortælle om alt det
eiendommelige, som vi saa i Pompei og om toùren til Capri og
"den blaa grotte", – det vilde blive for vidtlöftig, – jeg hadde sat
mig i hodet, at jeg vilde se ind i den brömte grotte; – men havet
stod haardt paa indgangen, som skjùltes hvert öieblik af de
store bölgedönninger. – Vi maatte vende om med uforrettet sak,
men nogen dristige rövere, som havde været i tysk fangenskab
rodde os senere den halve mil ùd til grotten fra Capri (by) – tiltrods
for at havet stod endnù haardere paa end förste gang, –
de forvovne karer vilde nytte leiligheden, – naar grotten spyede
havet ùd, – til at pile ind i "halsen" og lade næste dönning bære
baaden helt ind i grotten. – Da vi kom frem til aabningen,
sa Per, at han kùnde ikke forstaa, hvor vi skulde ind, – der
var jo bare fjeld – (dönningerne skjùlte nemlig grottens mùnd), men da
dragsùget et öieblik trak sig saa langt tilbake, at Per fik se
halvdelen af gabet, der ikke var en meter höit, – da svor
han höit og dyrt, at gjennem det "hùllet" vilde han aldrig.
Vore roere maatte tilkalde en baad i nærheten og faa
Per overfört paa den, – og saa satte roerne fart paa i et belei-
ligt öieblik med meg, – alle mand kastede sig i bùnden af baaten,
– en af dem fik endog tid at kaste en gùmmipresenning
over os i det öieblik, vi "smatt" ind hùllet, og det var nödven-
digt; thi bölgen, som kom efter os fossed om os og over os,
og der blev et lùftryk og et "gùlp" som rent tok pùsten
fra mig det var et öieblik helt mörkt. – der var ogsaa knapt et par tommer til gode
baade ovenfor os og paa siderne, – men da grotten havde
"svælgt os", og jeg havde faaet spyttet ùd det salte sjövand,
da var det en af de herligste oplevelser, jeg har havt –
grotten var fyldt af et svagt mystisk blaaligt lys, som kom
fra havets "bùnd", som lyste som blaagrönligt fosfor; noget
saa "isblaat", har jeg aldrig seet–som det selvlysende vand.–
en anden baat, – fört af lignende vovehalser som vore, – var kom-
men ind för os og kùnde ikke komme sig ùd igjen, – den
virkede som en svart silhoùet mod det selvlysende vand, –
det var kùn saa vidt, man kùnde skimte ansigterne paa de sorte
silhoùetter af mennesker, som sad i baaten. Jeg begyndte at
belave mig paa at lide samme skjæbne; – (at maatte sidde
der inde i grotten 5–6 timer til det blev lavvand); men vore roere klarte du-
gangen rent mesterligt; – vi fulgte et dragsùg ud igjen,
men komne midt i "halsen", – fossede en skùmspröitende
ny bölge ind igjennem gabet; – og jeg maa endnù med
beùndring tænke paa den lynsnarhed, hvormed roerne
trak sig tilbake med baaten ind i grotten, og hvorledes
de like lynsnart fùlgte bölgen ùd igjen trods stormen
og det "gulpende" bröl, som ledsagedes af blindende sjöröik.
Jeg glemmer aldrig den bölgen, som mödte os i gapet; det
blev mörkt i grotten – blaamörkt – bölgen skjulte jo
hele indgangen, saa vi formelig var "ùnder havet", – og
da vi i næste öieblik pilede ùd gjennem den trange aab-
ning og fik se den dödsens bleke Per paa en bölgetop,
maatte jeg smile til ham, – han havde nemlig i mellemtiden
lidt helvedskvaler, – han troede vi var falden blant
"rövere", som nù havde gjort ende paa mig inde i hùlen;
og nù kom kanske toùren til ham ogsaa; – men han
"havde gjort sig rede til at sælge sit liv saa dyrt som mùligt".
"Dù er nù fan ikke ræd nogen ting heller!" sa han siden,
da vi ved et herligt glas Caprivin styrkede vore nerver
efter sindsbevægelsen, – (ja det var en af de mest nervepir-
rende oplevelser, jeg har havt). Paa det skjæve taarn
i Pisa var det jo noget lignende, – jeg gik nemlig rùndt
alle afsatserne, og der var intet gjærde, og marmoren, (som
hele taarnet er bygget af), var saa glat at naar jeg kom
paa den side, hvor taarnet heldede sterkest, vilde jeg glide
ùdfor; – særlig i næst överste etage eller afsats begyndte svim-
melheden at virke, saa jeg en stùnd maate holde mig i en
af söilerne (som var for tykke), medens jeg saa ned paa et apelsintræ. (Med
de tùsend frugter, – som vrimlede for öiet, – forögede det næsten
svimmelheden, – men paa toppen af taarnet gik det over; thi
derfra kùnde jeg ikke se frùgterne). – Der var en herlig udsigt.
Per tùrde ikke fölge længer end til næstöverste afsats, – og han
tùrde ikke gaa rùndt en eneste af afsatserne. Hjördis sad
igjen i en af de indvendige marmortrapper – omtrent paa
midten af taarnet, og hùn graat sine modige taarer –
Engel var heldigvis ikke med, – hùn laa igjen i Florenz (Firenze)
Hùn har forresten været meget "kjæk" paa toùren; naar
man tager i betragtning hendes "omstændigheder"; – vi
andre – Per og jeg i allefald er jo nogen "sjuklinger".
Hjördis har jo aldrig været syk, – men saa er hùn det
i sandhed nù – af malariaen. – Mellem os sagt!!!
Hùn har et par gange været helt sindsvag (af feberen).
Hùn blir rasende paa en eller anden af os ùden grund.
Hùn skræmte os frygtelig en nat – (at Engel taalte
det nù "paa sidste dagene" det var godt): Ja det er vel
sladderagtigt at fortælle noget derom: – men jeg stoler
jo ubetinget paa Eder og veed, at det "bliver mellem os".
Hùn sprang nemlig op af sengen, – hvori hùn havde ligget
et dögn for feber – og ud i entreen og ind i "Salongen",
der er "væg i væg" med Engel og mig; – og der satte hùn i
en frygtelig höi og skraldene latter, som hörtes over hele
hotellet, – den blev værre og værre – indtil den endte i skrik
og hùn skrek og skrek og ropte paa Per: at verten holdt
paa at volltage hende. – Per sprang ùd; – men der
fandtes ingen i salonen, – ùten hende; – saa fik han
hende ind paa værelset igjen, – (hùn var jo omtrent naken),
men der begyndte atter den frygtelige latteren. Per
kom ind til os, som bodde like ved siden, og var rent
grönblek i ansigtet, – "hùn er gal!" "hùn er gal!" sa
han. Til all lykke var her en ùng nordmand,
som heder Titland (Olaf); – han havde opsökt
mig, – fordi han kjendte en nordmand i Coocks bùreaùe,
som havde fortalt ham, at jeg var i Alger; – jeg vexlede nem-
lig nogle penge der, (fordi alle banker her snyder, som bare
fan i helvede); (jeg var indom en bank lige ved siden af
Coocks bùreaù – [Coock snyder ogsaa, men mindre] –, og paa
den bank vilde man snyde os paa 200 frc., som vi
altsaa tjente ved at gaa 8–10 skridt til Coocks bùreaù)
Kort sagt, Titland opsögte mig, og han var saa inter-
eseret i at höre om vestlandsforhold, at han blev sid-
dende til langt paa nat, – saa at vi – særlig Engel –
önskede ham pokker i vold, – og han skùlde just til
at gaa i 2–½ 3 tiden, da dette med Hjördis hændte, – jeg
forklarede ham – at hùn havde havt feber paa hele
reisen, siden vi fik malariaen i Italiaen, – (hùn var værst
opstùkken af malariamyggen og kunde ikke lade være at "klö" sig). "Ja det stemmer", sa
Titland, – "jeg har havt 3 kamerater, som har havt
malariaen, og de har havt lignende anfald – aldeles".
Han gik da ind til Per og Hjördis, (som jeg havde presen-
teret ham for) og tok sig af Hjördis, som Per i sin
fortvivlelse bare skjændte paa. – Titland fik lidt
kognak hos mig og fugtede hendes læber, og da aab-
nede hùn mùnden, som havde været krampagtig sam-
menbidt, – og saa heldte han kognakken i hende,
og hùn kom til sig selv efter en times "vildelse".
Det var rent ùhyggeligt at se hendes öine, som stod ùd af hodet.
Men nù har hùn været bra i flere dage, – og vi
haaber hùn maa have staaet det værste anfald
over nù, – heldigvis havde vi chinin, som hùn
tok, straks, hùn kom til fùld bevidsthed. –
Ja – nù blir vi Eder meget skyldig for all
Eders venlighed mod Petra. – Dere maa hilse
hende. Dere har selvfölgeligt havt mange ùdlæg
for hende. – Dere maa tage af til dækning af de
penge, som er omsat i kroner, – resten kan kanske
sendes hid NB. Recomanderet! – De spanske penge
kan blive staaende i Madrid-banken, til vi kommer
did – men bed Privatbanken om at sende mig
snarest et "bevis" i fuld orden, – saa jeg ingen van-
skeligheder har med at have pengene; paa be-
viset bör staa: No hay qùe entregar (pague) – sin
exhibicion del pasaporte! (ikkje at ùdbetale – ùden
fremvisning af reisepass). Jeg veed ikke om det er godt
spansk, men enhver spanier vil forstaa det. Skùlde
imidlertid P.tas springe op igjen, hvad jeg aldrig tror;
saa kan det være bedst at vexle i Norske kroner. Bed
banken snarest sende pengebeviset hid,– da det blir verre
at finde en fast adresse senere – ; renter bör ogsaa paa-
föres bankanvisningen (eller beviset); thi bankerne vil aldrig
ùd med renterne, – det blir jo ikke meget, – men det kan
være godt for en gangs skyld at være overlegen mod de
hovne bankmænd, som vi hid til har truffet nok af paa reisen
Ja jeg skaffer Eder meget bryderi. Undskyld skriften – papiret
"trækker" som trakpapir. Lev da vel og et rigtig godt aar
önskes Eder af Eders hengivne Engel, og Nikolai Astrùp
Translation
Hotel Albert Alger Africa <14/1 23>
We received your letter today (via Alicante), – and it pleased us greatly
to hear from you. Well it seems the postal service has become a game
of “hazard” – I have sent several letters home, – Engel even
more, – all of which have been lost; – I also sent Kari and Arnold
a stack of little albums with pictures from Capri, Naples
and Rome, – they have also been lost en route; the postal service
steals everything that might have the slightest value (they often steal
letters, just for the sake of the postage both used and unused stamps), – As
when we stayed for a few days in an Arab city, called Croùbs –
– in the approximate centre of Africa, – but not a single postcard
or letter that I wrote – from there the day before Christmas has arrived. (In Croùbs
I was also robbed of my shaving kit; – it is the
second time it has happened to me during the trip). – I understand, that one
must send all one’s letters and everything else in the
mail by special delivery. Well we are now in Africa and
are doing quite well, though admittedly I am afflicted by the malaria
– the fever is often severe, – but what’s worse is the bronchitis, and an
unbearable “twinge”, that will never cease, – and a cough, the likes
of which I have never experienced before, – that bloody trip to
Hvalöerne gave me a bad cold, which I apparently will
never get rid of; – and in addition to that were the hundreds of
Vertical text on left: Greetings to consul Mohr or his wife if you meet them – I don’t think there is any use in writing
about Engel’s travel money – it was most likely already calculated in the purchase of the pictures
mosquito bites, that I suffered in Italy, which caused
this fever. – Engel contracted phlebitis from them
and was bedridden for about 3 weeks, – and I, who traipsed around
in all the museums with the fever raging in my blood, – I became
so sweaty one day, I no longer sweat since I came down with malaria, that I entered a cold stone church,
and sat down on a stone bench to listen to the sleep-
inducing Catholic mass, until I fell asleep, – and a-
woke with such a terrible chill in my body, – that I had to go home to bed,
and then it turned into bronchitis; – I fortunately met a
kind German-speaking pharmacist, who gave us effective medicine
– especially for the malaria; – but the bronchitis and the cough
cannot be cured, – I have coughed so incessantly, that I have surely
kept all of my hotel neighbours awake, – and I
have often thought, that my lungs might be wrung inside out,
or that I might even cough up my “immortal soul”.
I should be thankful, that the asthma has kept its distance.
But this constant fire in my chest with “twinges” is not
much better, because the Asthma has its periods of reprieve, during which
I am totally free; – but this eternal “poking” is irritating in the long
run, even though it is not as painful, as the Asthma.
Here in the meantime there is sunshine and summer and blossoms in the fields and
trees; so if it doesn’t help to be here, then nothing will help, –
Well it is lovely here – particularly at night, – palm groves all over
the centre of the city; – palm leaves several metres in length wave
wave and twist in silver-green around the gas lamps, so that
the shadows move up and down the white walls of the buildings
like the shadows of waves on a light seabed.
The streets rise in a zigzag up the partly steep
city, and nearly all the streets are decorated with close rows
of approx. 6-metre-high myrtle-like trees, that are continuously
trimmed; – many streets are only composed of stairs, – and it is strange
to see donkeys (so overloaded, one might think, the
back would break), – to watch them crawl up
the often very steep stairs. On either side of these
“stairway streets” there are often wonderful little parks
with thousands of roses and other blossoming trees, –
banana palms with unripe bananas – date palms
with ripe dates, that glisten bright yellow amidst the
green – (they are almost ripe); – and in these small
parks, that are as steep as the stairs, there are
concrete paths that lead upward in swings, almost
like at my place in Sandalstrand, – even “turf fences”
as steep as mine; but it is not grass, they
grown out of (or are composed of), but small cac-
tus plants – (which are trimmed), – they are so green that you
might think, they were “painted” – and here and there they have blazing-
yellow blossoms; – and in the middle of these “turf hedges” there are
occasional “built-in” marble benches with “mosaic”-adorned
backs and sides, where one can rest under a
tree with hanging clusters of fruit and blossoms, – (many
trees bear fruit and blossoms at the same time), – it is very
rare to see a tree without leaves, – in that case it is usually of
Nordic origin, – such as several wild cherry and cherry
trees, which still have 3–4 of last autumn’s leaves, while simultaneously
sporting the first white blossoms. Incidentally it is diffi-
cult to say, when it is autumn here; because every tree takes
its autumn, when it pleases, – and thus the orange
and mandarin fruit is not ripe yet; – today we
met an Arab lady, – who showed us around her
garden, where we were allowed to pick mandarin oranges; – she shook the
mandarin trees so that the ripest fruit fell down
to us. She was half Arab or nearly ¼ French – and thus her husband’s equal
as a spouse, – who could walk around freely and speak with whomever
she wished, without hiding her face; – they were wealthy people
and had a little villa with a wonderful garden, – a proper
little paradise; – finally she also showed us her (or
rather her husband’s) harem women; – we were allowed to take a peek
at them through “the prison’s” grating – they immediately hid their
faces, but when they saw, that we were not Arabs they promptly
II
drew the silk back from their faces; – for it is only from
Arabs they conceal their charms, – a European might
readily see their face – (well often even their abdomen and their beautiful
breasts). We felt it was quite an experience, – to
meet a wealthy Arab family; it was also
by pure chance; – because ordinarily Arabs are very intro-
verted with respect to Europeans, (they probably remember being chased
out of Spain, – and in addition they are not very fond of French-
men – since the war, which they participated in – (perhaps without
having got any remuneration) – , they love the Germans however,
who treated their wounded soldiers so well in pris-
on, while the population itself starved in Germany). We have become
acquainted with quite a few Arabs (fruit venders), and they
always come over to us in the street and greet us with a
powerful handshake and call us friends; – but this
is common here; – this experience today on the other hand was
a pure coincidence; because we were about to mistakenly enter
a garden, – when we confused a private road with the main road
A beautiful Arab girl showed up then and led us up through a veritable
labyrinth of mosaic-laden stairs and up to the lady, with whom we
could not communicate however, since I don’t speak much French.
Here at the hotel is a Spanish girl, who cleans our room,
but she speaks so quickly, that I don’t get far with my
Spanish, – and when I ask her to speak slowly, she becomes
offended and says, that she is in a hurry, – there is also
a Spanish servant here (half Spanish), who is very gracious, but
he is also “aloof”, when it comes to speaking
Vertical text on left side: You have received my unusually long “piece of writing” from Italy I presume?
slowly; – but he does not become offended or ill-
mannered like the girl, – he simply says: “oh the weather is
so lovely today, – You must go out for a walk”, or, if it
is in the evening, he says – “I wish you a “very
fine evening.” – We have met several Spaniards, and they are all
very uncooperative and “arrogant”, (proud as a Spaniard as the saying goes)
“to do it the Spanish way” – is another expression, – I am
almost reluctant to travel to Spain. We will remain here at
at least a couple of months, – until
Engel’s labour is over with (and a little longer too until she has
recuperated completely); she has written to her mother, that she will (buy)
[and] take home with her a native child from Africa, – her mother
knows nothing about her “condition” you see I think she will understand the joke. From Sicily (on the ship
crossing over to Africa) we had rough seas, and she was
very sick – “the shaking” of the trains through the desert and mountainous regions
was not good for her either, – that is why we settled down here; as
we did not dare to travel across the Mediterranean to Spain with her.
When we continue, – I am thinking of hiring an aeroplane
and flying so far west, that we will be directly south
of Spain, so that the trip across the “choppy” sea to
Spain will be short. The trains here travel at a bloody fast speed, – worse
than in America and France, – so that they “shake” frightfully, – we
also had a train accident on route here; – the piston rod, that
turns the wheels of the locomotive flew off at one end and got stuck in the earth so
the train stopped suddenly; – and we had to sit for 2–3 hours in the middle
of the desert; – until another train arrived and helped us on our way. they placed an apparatus on the telegraph wire
The desert incidentally is not as dull, as one might
believe; – almost everything is red; red sand dunes with an-
cient strange-looking cactuses, whose peculiar light green
colours with red fruit are in wonderful contrast to the red landscape; – in some places
a blue river wound its way down below surrounded by steep red
bluffs, – even the sand can be interesting, when it lies
in waves – like a congealed “Red Sea” – (although it is not
red everywhere). – A snow-clad mountain sticks up here and there and
refreshes the view of the burning desert sun or glows in a
phosphorus glare on a moonlit night. Occasionally the
sand also takes on strange shapes, – veritable snowdrifts made of sand
mounds – ; I would not like to be out in a sand storm and be
buried under a mountain of sand – or (even a mound of sand would
be enough), – then it would be better to take an aeroplane, – it flies
so high; that it avoids the sand storm. – Well, we are doing
well; as long as everything goes well with Engel, and I get rid of
the bronchitis and “the twinge”; – and we also had money, – we are quite
“broke” now; – we have rented a room in a maternity
clinic, – it remains vacant for the pending event, and
I will be able to stay there as well, – since Engel does not know a word
of French. It will be frightfully expensive. – We have already purchased
infant’s clothing. We have a magnificent room at the hotel here, –
Warm water; as much as we wish to use – (separate taps) and
we will keep the room, – until Engel is done at the clinic.
when it will be good for her to have plenty of warm water
for the infant. Engel does not want to be more than
14 days at the clinic at most, – as it is so expensive there; – there are
only private clinics here, and they don’t have either national or munici-
pal subsidies as in Norway, – and so it is understandable, that it is
expensive, – it is only the wealthy Frenchmen (or rather their
women), who check into such clinics, – Arab women
“swaddle” their children themselves – like the Virgin Mary and the other bibli-
cal women. – These Arabs are in many ways
a lot like the Jews: – their shrouded women. (like Re-
becca who “covered her face, when she saw her future Isaac husband”)
and their circumcision, (I am going to observe such a procedure next
week); moreover their aversion to pork, which they do not e-
ven dare to touch and their floor-length silk tunics, which are
nearly always white, (although they often have a "purple" violet silk garb
underneath, which is visible at the chest, and when they stick their arms out
of the slits in the sides of the tunics). They almost always walk around barefoot,
and the ladies have wide silk trousers, that hang below the tu-
nic (like a bag: thus illustration) at times the trousers and tunic are the same length.
The men evidently do not have trousers; because on the country roads one
can often see them “crouching down” to perform all kinds of business,
(without being in the least perturbed by passers-by), it may be the
reason, why they are known for being unclean,
but it is because, they live today as they did 1000 years ago,
and at that time we did not have outhouses in Norway either, – clean-
liness on the whole – was not so developed as with the Arabs.
They behave with a calm dignity, – when they are not angry;
but in that case the knife is not far off. There are many thieves here,
who normally live in the desert, – but who stroll as boldly in the
streets as other gentlemen; – an Arab told me this, and he
warned me not to let his relatives see my large pocket-
book – (I had to obtain a large purse because of the large visa)
(and the many millions, I had in Austria). –––
III
There is much, that is painterly here, – but it is difficult
for me to paint anything, – the motifs are impossible to
crop, but worst of all are the young pauper boys, – urchins
and other derelicts, who swarm around foreigners here.
In Venice I told You about the young boys, who tore my sketchbook out
of my hands to see, what I was drawing, – but it was nonetheless done in a
kind of friendly amusement, – here they are malicious – and I
fear, that I might murder one of these mulatto young-
sters, if I were to paint something here, – they throw large cactus leaves
at you – (and they are full of spikes worse than a hedgehog’s); – any cut
– even the most insignificant – becomes an “incurable laceration” here in the south.
I experienced this in Rome, where we stayed in a Danish hotel, – we
met a Norwegian family, that recommended this hotel to us (“Dinesen”)
(we met 3 Norwegian painters there). When we were leaving the hotel,
I wanted to carry all of our baggage up to the train station and leave it
in storage, until I had collected all of it; – but the hotel would
not hear of this, – they would provide the transport for us and our
baggage to the station in a taxi; – I then placed all of our clothing (21
pieces of luggage) together in one place in the vestibule and showed the porter
who would take care of it; – but when we arrived at the station one
suitcase was missing, – and it was 5–6 minutes before the train would de-
part; – I left Engel and the others standing there; got hold of a
taxi and took the reins from the Italian coachman and drove
like a madman to the hotel; (I have often been disturbed by how Italians
mistreated their horses; but this time I was no better myself.)
When we arrived at the hotel I dashed down and was going to open the
large glass doors; – where one of the travellers has placed his suitcase
behind the door, – and I, who dashed into it with all my weight, nearly
went straight through the glass door, – it rained thousands
of glass shards, and I cut one of my hands badly in
many places, – one finger was especially mangled all the way
to the bone. The management came over and were very apolo-
getic about the porter’s mistake; – they had discovered it immediately
and had sent the suitcase by express to the station. – I told
them to “go to hell” – and gave them a real dressing-down and promised, that
I would warn all Norwegians away from this hotel, – and then
I jumped into the wagon and drove at a gallop to the station, all the while
bleeding like a calf; – and we managed to catch the train at
the last moment; – where a kind gentleman took care of me wrapping
my hand in cotton (one should always carry with one
such sterile cotton – “boracic lint”, when one is travelling). Well, this turned into
a long story, – I just wanted to say, that it took a long
time, for me to recover, (it may be that wounds heal more slowly,
when one has malaria). – I’m not sure, whether in a previous
letter I have talked about our visit to “Hell’s Chimney Pot”, (Vesuvius),
where we looked down into “the abyss”, from which sulphur fumes and
flames rose, – Engel was particularly gripped at hearing “the horrible
screams of the damned”. Per and I inhaled the sulphur fumes with
great satisfaction, – it did our poor lungs good, –
while Hjördis, who had never had asthma or bronchitis
was about to be strangulated. Engel as well – it was worse than breathing in smoke from a stovepipe, she said.
Per and I would have gladly stayed on for a longer spell to
enjoy the wonderful air, while we waited for a proper eruption;
but we were overcome by a snow flurry – (the only one we experienced on the trip)
and it did not go well with the volcano’s belly, – it regurgitated a
veritable storm of brimstone and flames, – and this storm took
Hjördis’ hat off and swept it over the steep escarpments of lava
and ashes, – where no human could tread, – she wanted to descend
she has gone around bareheaded until a few days ago when Per bought her a new hat
immediately, – reasonably enough, – and she mourned so much for
the hat, that she remained sitting in a restaurant brooding,
while we visited Pompeii hobbled around between the ruins and
the “boulder strewn” streets, – (that almost resembled a
mountain farm in Jölster, where the larger stones are allowed to lie in peace, –
just as they have lain, since the moraine deposited them there), – I
cannot understand how the “highly civilized” people of that time could have
settled with such a “heap of stones” to walk on – (the stones were greatly
worn), – a Swedish lady, who had the room next to ours at
the hotel, broke her leg there. – To write about all the
quaint sights, that we saw in Pompeii and on our trip to Capri and
“the blue grotto”, – would be too long-winded, – I had gotten
it in my head, that I had to have a look into the famous grotto; – but the sea
was rough by the entrance, which was hidden every other second by the
great swells. – We were forced to turn around with our mission abandoned,
but some fearless bandits, who had been in German captivity
rowed us later the five kilometres out from Capri (city) to the grotto – despite
the fact that the sea was even more turbulent than the first time, –
the venturesome men wanted to use the opportunity, – while the grotto spewed
the sea out, – to dash into “the bottleneck” and let the next swell carry
the boat all the way into the grotto. – When we arrived at the opening,
Per said, that he could not fathom, where we might enter, – there
was nothing but rock face – (the swells namely concealed the mouth of the grotto), but when
the undertow for a second retreated so far back, that Per could see
half the gap, which was no more than a metre high, – then he swore
a solemn oath, that through that “hole” he would never enter.
Our rowers were forced to summon a boat in the vicinity and had
Per transferred to it, – and then the rowers pick up speed at the right
moment with me on board, – everyone threw themselves onto the floor of the boat.
– one of them even managed to throw a rubber tarpaulin
over us in the instant we “slipped” into the hole, and it was essen-
tial; because the wave, that came after us thrashed around us and over us,
and was followed by an air vacuum and a “splash” that nearly took my breath
away it was totally dark for a second. – there was also barely a couple of inches to spare
both above us and on either side, – but once the grotto had
“swallowed us”, and I managed to spit out the salt sea water,
it was one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had –
the grotto was full of a slightly mystical bluish light, which came
from the ocean’s “bottom”, that glowed like blue-green phosphorus; something
as “icy blue”, as that luminescent water–I had never seen before.–
another boat, – steered by daredevils like ours, – had en-
tered before us and could not get out again, – it
appeared like a black silhouette against the luminous water, –
it was barely possible to glimpse the faces on the black
silhouettes of the people, who sat in the boat. I began to
prepare myself for having to suffer the same fate; – (to have to sit
in there in the grotto for 5–6 hours until low tide); but our rowers managed to
exit with great skill; – we followed an undertow out again,
but having entered the middle of the “bottleneck”, – a new foam-spraying
wave came thrashing in through the gap; – and I must once again think
with admiration of the lightning speed, with which the rowers
retreated with the boat back into the grotto, and how
they just as swiftly followed the wave out again despite the storm
and the “splashing” roar, that is accompanied by blinding sea spray.
I will never forget the wave, that we encountered in the opening; the
grotto became dark – pitch black – the wave covered
the entire entrance, so that we were virtually “under water”, – and
when in the next instant we dashed out through the narrow open-
ing and could see a deathly pale Per on the top of a wave,
I had to smile at him, – for he had in the meantime
suffered the torments of hell, – he thought we had fallen into the hands
of “bandits”, who had undoubtedly put an end to me inside the cave;
and now it was perhaps his turn; – but he had
“readied himself to sell his life as dearly as possible”.
“My God, you are not afraid of anything!” he said later,
when we were having a delicious glass of Capri wine to settle our nerves
after all the emotion, – (well it was one of the most thril-
ling experiences, I have ever had). On the leaning tower
of Pisa there was a similar incident, – I walked around
all the ledges, and there weren’t any railings, and the marble, (which
the entire tower is built out of), was so slippery that if I came around
to the side, where the tower leaned the most, I would slide
off the edge; – especially on the next to the highest level or ledge I
began to feel dizzy, so that for a while I had to hold onto one
of the pillars (which were too broad), while looking down at an orange tree. (With
the dozens of the fruit, – that swam before my eyes, – the dizziness almost
increased, – but at the top of the tower it passed; because
from there I could not see the fruit). – It was a wonderful view.
Per didn’t dare follow further than to the next highest ledge, – and he
did not dare walk around a single one of the ledges. Hjördis remained
sitting in one of the internal marble staircases – approximately in
the middle of the tower, and she cried her brave tears –
Engel had fortunately not come along, – she had remained in Florence (Firenze)
She has incidentally been “spry” on the journey; if one
takes into account her “condition”; – the
rest of us – Per and I are a couple of “weaklings”.
Hjördis has never been sick, – but she is now
in earnest – with malaria. – Between the two of us!!!
She has at times been totally insane (from the fever).
She becomes enraged at one or the other of us without reason.
She gave us a terrible scare one night – (thank goodness Engel
endured it “at this late date [in her pregnancy]”): it is perhaps
indiscrete to talk about it: – but I trust
You unconditionally and know, that it “will remain between us”.
She jumped up out of the bed; – where she had been lying
for 24 hours due to fever – and went out to the vestibule and into the “Sitting room”,
which was “adjacent” to Engel’s and my room; – and there she let
out a frightfully loud and peeling laugher, that could be heard throughout the entire
hotel, – it became increasingly worse – until it ended in a scream
and she screamed louder and louder and shouted to Per: that the hotel manager
was raping her. – Per ran out; – but there
was no one was in the sitting room, – besides her; – then he manage to
guide her into their room again, – (she was practically naked),
but there the frightful laughter began again. Per
came into us, who lived right next door, and was positively
green in the face; – “she’s mad!” “she’s mad!” he
said. Fortunately a young Norwegian,
by the name of Titland (Olaf) was here; – he had contacted
me, – because he knew a Norwegian at the Cook [travel] bureau
who had told him, that I was in Alger; – I had ex-
exchanged some money there; (because all the banks here cheat, like
the devil); (I went to a bank right next door to
Cook’s bureau –[Cook cheats as well, but less]–, and in
that bank they wanted to cheat us of 200 francs, which we
thus earned by walking the 8–10 steps to the Cook bureau)
In short, Titland contacted me, and he was so inter-
ested in hearing about the conditions in West Norway, that he remained
until far into the night, – so that we – especially Engel –
wished he would go to hell, – and he was just about
to leave around 2½ - 3 o’clock, when this incident with Hjördis occurred, – I
explained to him – that she had been having fever during the entire
journey, since we contracted malaria in Italy, – (she had been bitten
worse than any of us by the malaria mosquitoes and could not refrain from “scratching” herself). “Well, that sounds right”, said
Titland, – “I have 3 comrades, who have had
malaria, and they have had similar hysterics – entirely”.
He then went in to Per and Hjördis, (whom I had intro-
duced him to) and took care of Hjördis, whom Per in
despair had only yelled at. – Titland obtained a little
cognac from me and moistened her lips, and when she op-
ened her mouth, which had been convulsively clenched
shut, – he poured the cognac down her throat,
and she came around after an hour’s “disorientation”.
It was utterly frightening to see her eyes, which protruded out of her head.
But she has been well for a few days now, – and we
hope she has gotten over the worst
fit, – fortunately we had quinine, which she
took, the minute she regained full consciousness. –
Well – we are now very indebted to You for all
Your kindness towards Petra. – You must give her
our greetings. You have certainly had many expenses
on her account. – You must subtract the amount from the
money, that has been exchanged into kroner, – the rest might perhaps
be sent here N.B. by Special Delivery! – The Spanish currency
may remain in the Madrid Bank, until our arrival
there – but ask the Private Bank to send me
urgently a “declaration” in proper order, – so that I do not have any dif-
ficulties in withdrawing the money; on the state-
ment it should state: No hay qùe entregar (pague) – sin
exhibicion del pasaporte! (do not pay – without
the display of a passport). I don’t know if it is proper
Spanish, but any Spaniard will understand it. Should
the P.tas surge again however, which I cannot imagine;
then it would be best to exchange it into Norwegian kroner. Ask
the bank to send the monetary declaration here,– as it will be more difficult
to find a permanent address later – ; the interest should also be in-
cluded in the bank instructions (or the declaration); because the banks never wish
to pay the interest, – it will not be much, –but it might
be nice for once to be superior towards the
arrogant bank tellers, whom we have met plenty of on our journey
Well I am causing You great bother. Pardon the handwriting – the paper
“absorbs” like blotting paper. Live well and a very happy new year
to You from Your devoted Engel, and Nikolai Astrùp