My dear Susan You have been most attentive in writing by every opportunity, and unexpected letter is a great treasure in the bush. The second one you wrote to Manawatu I did not of course receive as I started punctually on the day I fixed for leaving Mr Duncan you say nothing about your Waikanae trip. Has it been a failure? I had a very pleasant trip across the country after a long days journey you can scarcely conceive how exceedingly comfortable and clean a tent feels. You have dry nice fern for your bed covered over with oilskin and an oppossum rug. Generally the encampment is on the bank of a river or near a nice spring where there is bush for firewood. When night fully sets in to look out at your tent door you will see the fires of your party blazing up in 20 different places, all of them enjoying themselves singing songs or telling some antiquated tales of times gone by or listening to an old greyheaded senator who witnessed the suns of many summers & the various extraordinary events of past times but all this possesses no charms for you town ladies, something very different is required for your amusement therefore I need say little more on this subject excepting that I am now going to start up the river to select a nice spot as an encampment for myself & party in a bay where we can have wood, water & fish & spend our Xmas quietly. I am obliged to end this letter abruptly. The natives are waiting for me and if I do not avail of this tide I will lose a day so you must not blame for a short letter as the chances are I will write you a much longer one yet before the vessels sail but in case I should not have another chance of doing so remember me kindly to Mama & with every wish that you may have a happy Xmas believe me to be Always yours sincerely Donald McLean Decr 23rd 1850