Harkness – MacGillivray Stories

I had imagined that I might find an answer to the ‘ship’s furniture’ in connection with my father’s burnt hand and arm. I had hoped to find the solution to this conundrum in the Rangoon letters; however, no furniture is mentioned. But this was a little optimistic. If my father lived in Burma for 1-2 years, my parents probably wrote at least 100 letters then. I only have four letters. However, I haven’t read all the letters yet. I remain hopeful that the these mysteries may be solved later. 

On the other hand, I think the ivory tusks and the gong supply the solution to the ‘conundrum of the burnt hand and ship’s furniture’. The ‘missing’ letters might provide information about the elephant tusks and gong. The so-called ship’s furniture was also made from eastern wood, such as teak and mahogany. I would guess that much of this furniture was transported from Burma. However, there is no evidence of this in the letters.

In conclusion, I have many letters from the year of the burnt hand and arm accident, but none of these mention ship’s furniture, or furniture made from teak or mahogany – so draw your own conclusions!