Outgoing Correspondence from Robert Ridgway, May 25, 1867

              steamship constitution pacific ocean off coast oxaca, lat 18°-06 long 98°-.o9 may 25th 1867 my dear father having been nearly exhausted by the excessive heat i have until the present moment delayed writing to youâ€"to break the monotony of the voyage however I have determined to write you a detailed account of our voyage in the first place however i must tell you more of our expedition there are on board five of usâ€"mr king chief mr custer topographical engineer.) t.h o'sullivan photographer.) w w bailey botanist.) & myself in all our party consists of ten scientific persons the other five of whom went out by the steamer of the 1st they are as follows prof hague & brother geologist & mining engineers. Prof emmons geologist: clarke topographical engineer. gardner chief of t e.'s on arriving in cal. we have an escort of u.s cavalry which will always be ready in case any emergency. perhaps you will be