So last week we were introduced to the GDP diarist James B Williams’ first volume of diaries – Cornwall to Bolivia…
Vol 2 (1884-6) reports on the three years he spent working in Bolivian mines (entries become shorter as life becomes more routine); and the third reports on the trip home to England. There is a gap of about 10 months between the last entry in volume 2 and the first in volume 3. These diaries include additional material, including financial records, scraps of manuscript poetry, and a passport issued to the diarist in Chile. The diarist was married to Mary Ann Williams (née Prout) (GDP/58), and the father of Charles Joseph Williams (GDP/59).
Vols 2 and 3 recount learning the local language, suffering diarrhea, finding life monotonous, slaughtering pigs, encounters with ‘2 lewd women’, news of his father’s death, accidents in the mine, more diarrhea and his journey home.
Locations: Porco, Potosi, Humahuaca, Jujuy, Salta, Chilcas, Montevideo, Santos, Bahia, Maceio, Cape Verde, Tenerife, Lisbon, Vigo, Bay of Biscay, Southampton.