Dekleernaeker, Mrs, J. 
Filed: Belgian Congo Courtesy 
Letters 
October 31 > 1955 
Air Letter 
Mrs. J. Dekleernaeker 
B. P. 821 
Leopoldville 
Belgian Congo 
Dear Mrs, Dekleernaeker: 
I know you think I am terribly negligent. I have wanted 
to acknowledge your letter of June 30 all these months and just 
have gotten around to cleaning up a small part of the acetimula- 
tion of correspondence on desk since return from the 
Belgian Congo, vfe really had wonderful service throughout and 
made most fortunate acquaintances, you among them. 
I am sorry to hear that you are leaving AMI because you 
were a very wonderful guide and we learned a lot. Ihere is no 
hurry about the inscription on the laonuiaent before the mission 
which we passed on the way back to the Brazzaville ferry. The 
infonaation will be welcome whenever you laay have the oppor- 
tunity of getting over that wsy again. I still have not settled 
down to writing the narrative account of our trip but it should 
be done before spring. 
Don’t concern yourself too much about stasips. That is 
scmething for the future perhaps. 
Is there anything that I can do for you here in America,— 
because I am most appreciative of your offer to help me with 
"©lings Africa." 
As much as I enjoyed the Belgian Congo I was impressed 
with the ruins and monuments in Egypt. If you ever travel 
abroad I would urge you to go that way if you have the time. 
It took us twenty days from Juba,— for the most part by steamer 
but part by rail. 
problem now is to read the books I want to about the 
blacks in Africa. They have a remarkable history and prove to 
be quite interesting people when you delve into their past and 
have the opportunity to observe ttieir present. 
When I get my narrative written and printed I slmll cer- 
tainly remember youwwith a copy. Forgive me for not saying more 
about the trip now. It was successful. We got lots of specimens, 
though not as many as I wanted, and quite a lot of film. 
Ky kindest regards to you and your husband. 
Sincerely, 
