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Now, while I think of it, & have room, I will write of our health & such, like
the ill turn that Susan had when I wrote before she got over in
3 or 4 days, & since has had but two turns, & those quite light, lasting
but a minute or two: she is very well, & having got acquainted with the
people, & place is not homesick as she was the first few days. She has
an irritation of the skin which comes out in red spots & gives a good occasion
for scratching. Mr. M. says that “every foriegner who comes here must
suffer that,” it being the effect of a change of climate. Mrs Minor tells her
that is glad to see it come out well as she will be much less liable to the
fever of the country. They have the Syrian fever here, & Europeans are sub-
ject to the fever & ague. Having myself another complaint, & my skin
not being very irritable I have none of the rash, like, & suppose I am not
so liable to the fever. Oct. is the most sickly month. In my last letter
I spoke of a lameness, in my back, which was afterwards much worse so
that for 2 or 3 weeks after arriving I could nothing scarcely, & sometimes
hard walk without hurting me much. Dr. Barclay thought it an inflamtion
of the kidneys, which I rather think it was, Elijah M. thought it the piles.
I have gotten almost intirely well of it now, & for the last two weeks have been at
work with a German carpenter, making window frames, & sashes, & have gained
strength rapidly, being able to work nearly all day: but I found that my
cough did not decrease, as my strength increased, which is I think be-
cause the place where we work has a great deal of fine dust, & the bench being
quite low, I had to stoop a considerable, both of which are quite bad & I shall stop
working there for now. Another reason may be that we have slept in a tent
till now and though warm & comfortable enough, the tent being of sail cloth, yet
the night air is more bracing than in a closed room. We intend to take it
down tomorrow, expecting rain & strong wind every day. For about
10 days before the 7th of November we had slight showers, & a chilly wind, since
which the weather has been delightful, the thermometer being often but little
below 60° in the morning & generally from 60° to 65° through the day or warm-
er at noon. The rains have been most providentially delayed or we
should have been shelterless. We shall stow closer together till we move into
the new house. How do you do sister? Are you better than when we left, &
all the folks? How is Aunt Lydia, Cynthia, and all others, and grandmothers
(D. and E.?) & the folks in the neighborhood and town. Write to me, & give me
the news, & the good word. Give my love to all my friends; I am well
pleased in being here & feel no desire to return. (Heb. 11,15,16) Yours, ever, Philip