wormhead。Likeallourbrooks，thewaterispureasair，andrunsoverredstoneslikerubies。Thefoliagealongbothbanksverythickandhigh，theplaceclose，thewalkingexceedinglylaborious。Bythetimetheexpeditionreachedthefork，itwasfeltexceedinglyquestionablewhethertheMORALoftheforceweresufficientlygoodtoundertakemoreextendedoperations。Ahaltwascalled，themenrefreshedwithwaterandabath，anditwasdecidedatadrumheadcouncilofwartocontinuethedescentoftheEmbassyWaterstraightforVailima，whithertheexpeditionreturned，inratherpoorcondition，andwettothewaist，about4。P。M。
Thusintwodaysthetwomainwatercoursesofthiscountryhavebeenprettythoroughlyexplored，andIconceivemyinstructionsfullycarriedout。ThemainbodyofthesecondexpeditionwasbroughtbackbyanotherofficerdespatchedforthatpurposefromVailima。Casualties:onehorsewounded；
onemanbruised；nodeaths-asyet，butthebruisedmanfeelsto-dayasifhiscasewasmightyserious。
DEC。25，’91。
Yournotewithaverydespicablebulletinofhealtharrivedonlyyesterday，themailbeingadaybehind。ItcontainedalsotheexcellentTIMESarticle，whichwasasightforsoreeyes。IamstillTABOO；theblessedGermanswillhavenoneofme；andIonlyhopetheymayenjoytheTIMESarticle。