We are surveying now already three weeks and had to combine our work with some on the Guadalupe. We worked towards the Guadalupe through hilly country to a well known point and went back to the Blanco River. Here we had a nice but poor camp. Camping in a canyon on the highest point where both rivers meet, we could see far into the country. But water and grass. Besides that, it was really cold.
The next day we expected to be through with our work and wanted to be back in a settlement. We went down the valley through brushy country. Everyone killed a deer. Two stayed to hide them and we four went farther down to the selected campsite. Thinking that all the shooting was done, nobody reloaded the rifle pushing it off at the camp. All of a sudden we were attacked by thirty to forty Wichita Indians, naked with bow and arrows and tomahawks. War paint on face and body.
The nearest one from us four was caught with a lasso and killed instantly with a tomahawk. One turned around, and the only one who's gun was loaded, was hit by three arrows in the back, fell over and was killed with his own gun. The third of us got two arrow heads in his chest, turned around but six Indians killed him right away. I was all by myself. The two left behind had run off. I was encircled by the Indians but I had a good horse, took a pointed angle and came through their circle without a scratch, followed now by the Indians who were trying to cut me off from the settlement. They knew the hills very well. After a ride of five miles, I reached the Blanco River again. But the other side was very steep and I could not cross with my horse. I jumped off my horse, loaded my rifle and pistol and crossed the river. My shoes started hurting me so I took them off. But soon my feet were torn to pieces and bleeding. I crossed the Blanco, ran into a cedar brush and hid there till the next day, asleep from exhaustion and hunger.
After three miles I made the San Marcos settlement close to the spring. It was noon and after a quick bite I started with twenty young men back to find the dead ones. We buried them together under a pile of rocks. On top we cut their names with a knife in a big flat stone. We caught my horse again and went back. I rode to Austin and had to stay in bed for fourteen days on account of my feet. A fine opportunity to finish my letter.
I wanted to quit Cordoba first but thought it over. But thinking of you made me change my mind again. I will wait till fall. I will have saved then some more money. Don't think I am everytime in trouble. I told Cordoba of course never to survey with only five men but a month later we started again with five. We went to the Blanco once more. But no buffalos this time. However, wild cows and mustangs crossed our way. I celebrated my birthday with a good piece of turkey spiced with wild onions. I thought of you quite often. My savings run up to $150 already and I think I will be able to get $200 or even $250 in the fall.
I think to follow my old plan then, going into the rope business in Galveston together with Fritz. We will try it anyway. If it turns out all right then the brother-in-law and Rie can come abroad without risk. I would like to farm but if you don't have money and Negros it sure is a tough life.
A farmer here had hardly any money - no helping hands and if he gets some he has to pay $7 - $10 a month. You can imagine how hard it is for the wife. Besides the household, whe has to milk the cows. We get our ropes via New Orleans and Kentucky. They grow hemp there quite a lot and work it up in factories already there. If we buy hemp only we still have to pay the same freight rates and the question arises, will we be able to sell for the same price? They work with cheap Negros up there, too. However, in case you two come abroad I am going to farm, too.
I think Cordoba is going to help me. He is leaving for New York this summer to sell Texas land and in case he does a good business, he wants to buy cattle, make me his foreman and promises me to let me have every third and fourth calf out of a bunch of a hundred cows and the same amount of sheep. I think it is worth it. You see how uncertain I am what to do. To answer all your questions I have to look over your letters again. Don't get angry in case I mix them up a little. In case you are going to leave Germany, sell everything you can without a too big of a loss. Only money counts here. Americans like to speculate and if he has a new idea he sells his property for half the price against cash. You see, it always helps to have cash on hand. If you have to buy on credit or terms or want to trade, you mostly have to pay twice the price. I saw an American selling his one third of a league (1476 American acres) for half a dollar an acre. Excellent soil, three miles out of Braunfels. Mostly they get $2-$3 per acre there. He sold to a German who paid cash.
Speaking of tools like axes, Handaxes, saws, drills, etc. Don't bother with them. They are just as cheap here.. and even better in material and more practical. It sure is a pleasure to pick up an American ax. Sharp as a razor and made perfect. You can put them in a show case they are so nice. A German ax looks awful, like an az made by villains. The price of a good ax is one and one half dollars. However, don't sell your porcelain, gold and sterling silver. Here even Americans are proud to have it and show it. Be careful in packing it right so it will not be damaged. They handled those boxes rather rough. The German plow is considered better by German farmers here; it turns the heavy soil over while the American plow only loosens the soil up. You get a plow here for four dollars. Wagons built sturdy but not too heavy, iron axles and high wheels will cost you up to $150. You might take some axles and wheels along from Germany.
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