Item 26 - Letter from W.J. Embery, China Inland Mission, to Isaac Bayley Balfour

1 letter, 1 sheet, 1 page

Letter from William James Embery, China Inland Mission, Tali-fu [Dali], Tengyueh via Bhamo, Upper Burma, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 17 August 1905.
Embery, the Missionary based at the China Inland Mission at Dali writes to report that George Forrest is alive and hopes to reach the mission on 21st [August].
"Dear Sir, It is a very great joy to me to have to communicate to you the news I have to tell, rather than the news we feared would have to be sent to you. Doubtless you are aware that the district of Tsekou in which Mr. George Forrest has been "collecting" lately, has been in a disturbed state for some time. Things have reached a crisis and reports (reckoned upon as reliable) have been current here for several days that our friend Mr. Forrest, with the French Catholic priests, had all been massacred. Our hearts have indeed been sad, but today we received a letter from Mr. Forrest telling us that he was on his way to us here and hopes to arrive about the 21st inst. He says he escaped after a fearful struggle and experience lasting for 21 days, being hunted like a mad dog for 9 days on the hills, suffering terrible privation, then fell in with some friendly people who brought him on his way for quite a distance. Two of the French priests he says have been massacred, and it is indeed a marvel that he himself escaped. He wished me to communicate the news to you by first mail. Rest assured we will look after him well when he gets here and we thank God for thus marvellously delivering him. Mr. Forrest will be writing you himself later, but in the meantime we rejoice with you over today's good news. Believe me, Yours sincerely W.J. Embery
Letter appears to be similar to a carbon copy and is on very thin paper which has crumpled along the left hand side, has water staining and also some charring, leading to loss of paper and some text.

Permission required from RBGE.

• English

Letter appears to be similar to a carbon copy and is on very thin paper which has crumpled along the left hand side, has water staining and also some charring, leading to loss of paper and some text. Handle with extreme care.

It should be noted that the catalogue descriptions, summaries and letters may contain sensitive subjects and language, spellings and attitudes which may be deemed offensive now.

This Forrest correspondence collection summary has been provided by library volunteer Pauline Maclean and Archivist Leonie Paterson.