Above: Images believed to be included in a letter from M. Ofeq to V. Watkin. Upon the reverse of the page in a different hand is written "Teslin images for Royal Society."
Below: Only know page of text from letter written in Teslin by M. Ofeq to V. Watkin. Date believed to be sometime during the Great Expedition of '06.
Text of page:
. . . tiresome. When the shuttle arrives with supplies, my heart is lifted but I fear my spirit is beginning to flag. Discomfort has become a trivial thing for one grows accustomed to wet feet, aching legs, a pounding head. The constant newness of everything, the very strangness of the air one breathes is now the bane of my existence. If there were more locals about, I might consider it an attack or some sort, this constant unease, fear and sense of imbalance. Perhaps it is why no locals are around in large numbers. Before you begin to wonder, I have not spoken of my strange malady with Mr. Buchanan. He seems quite at ease outside of the constant vigilence he is prone to of late.
Pray write me again and let me know more of Cook's antics. Father sounds as if he is toddling along his normal path. She was ever so inventive to invite the traveling musicians to board for a month. He has not dabbled in the science of music making in some four years and should be distracted for at least a month after they depart. I shall double her salary upon my return home. One can only deduce the gentlemen in question were swayed by her prowress in the kitchen. Is the new steam powered oven seeing any use? Surely she is employing the new system of fans the steam mechanic installed to cool the kitchen.
Shopping has been scarce in the region we currently traverse. There was a shoppe offering various shapes for ladies. Imagine my relief at being alone when I tell you how little clothing covered the display images. It was quite shameful of me to be sure, but I tarried a bit longer than absolutely necessary to obtain samples of the building material for my eye and imagination were captured by a tall, svelt shape that promised to make me resemble an Amazon. Had I any proper clothing to cover such a frame, the money sitting so rarely used in my purse might have been spent.
The survey is going as well as can reasonable be expected. Improvements can of course always be introduced. To that end, would you be so kind as to share the images in this packet with the Royal Society? Their thoughts and comments would be ever . . .
