June 05 1907

Dear Prof. Osborn:

We were intending to leave Alexandria today for Naples but I developed some rather obstinate sores on my ankles the last week in the Fayum and have been obliged to hold up in the hospital for a few days in order for them to heal.

They began as poisoned fleabites and I should have remained in the tent for three or four days when they first appeared but there were photographs to take and county to look over and they kept getting worse each day until the day after we returned to Cairo when I consulted a physician and he said they would not heal unless I kept flat on my back for a week or so, and and for economy and safety I came around here.

They are getting along very nicely and I see nothing to prevent our getting away on the 12th.

I'm fortunate in having Olsen who has finished repacking the fossils and who can attend to various other little matters for me. He calls at the hospital every afternoon to bring mail etc.

We have twenty six cases of fossils and they are as well packed as I know how to pack them and I don't think there will be any breakage. We are putting two of these labels on each box and skull mark, briefly, in ink besides. I think the ink markings are required. They are on American freight parcels I know. Our boxes will be forwarded to America along with the Washington Exchange Collection. They may be transferred at Liverpool.

I'm sorry that Mrs. Granger has been unduly worried about my staying here so long as I have, but she is a woman, with all the womanly instincts, and therefore insists upon being overanxious about my health.

As a matter of fact I haven't felt so thoroughly well in years since I have been in Egypt. What annoyed my wife lately was that she was expecting me home the latter part of May and stopped writing at the proper time and didn't show of my returns to the Fayum until I could get a letter to her. This left me without news from her for forty days. That hot "Khamasine" wind in April, just before we left the first time is responsible for the whole trouble. Olsen and I realized that with such days as that every little while that further attempts would be impracticable.

I found, after settling up with Talba and the men for this last expedition that I should need a little more money to carry me home. This extra week here is going to run me fairly close, even with the 50 pounds which I cabled for, but I think we can get through.

Herr Markgraf has been in to see me today - he goes to Port Said tomorrow to see Dr. Graas who is on his way down the East Coast somewhere. What a traveller he is!

Markgraf shrugs his shoulders when I talk Arsinoitherium to him but I feel that there must be another skull somewhere in the Fayum and he will get it for us eventually.

Your telegram to stop work was very much in order; we couldn't have continued much longer to and profit. The days now are very hot and it is difficult to find a comfortable place during the day, even in town. From twelve to five the streets are nearly deserted and doors and windows are all shut to keep out the warm wind and the air is full of fine dust. It's a very good time to be leaving the country.

I find myself getting very anxious to get back to the museum to see the Allosaurus and other new things and to get down to work. I hope you will not be annoyed at our delay here. I could have prevented it by being more prudent but I so seldom have anything the matter with me that I thought nothing of it until it was too late.

Thanks for the print of the Allosaurus mount. With kind regards to all in the department

I am, with great respect

Most sincerely yours

Walter Granger