When Alexander was 64 years old he visited his beloved Scotland for the last time. He was a mature reflective man and was at a place in his life where he took an account of his lifes' work. We have two letter that he wrote to Annie. The first was while in Scotland, and he second was written while he was returning to Chile on board the ship Orita. I include the full text of these letters:
Munlochy
14th September 1929
My Dear Annie
I received you very welcome letter dated 14th of August today. I was very glad it came in time. I am leaving here on Monday morning and all is well. I am going by Edinburgh on my way to Liverpool. I must be at the latter town on the 18th to get my passport in order. D.V. will go abroad the Orita on the 19th which is due to sail by 1 PM on that date. I sent a box away yesterday to Liverpool by train as it had to be there two days before the boat sailed. I am also enclosing a duplicate draft for ₤55 No 57/35 of 10 inst issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland, Inverness to the Bank of Chile, Valparaiso in my name. I hold the original.
Poor John has a bothersome time of it. Also Eduardo I am sorry to hear he was sick with his throat swelling, I have no doubt by getting cold and wet.
I have lost weight since arriving in Scotland. I am telling them it is because I eat so much and don't get time to be hungry. I get oatmeal porridge every morning and I enjoy it best with oat cakes. The steamer is due in Talcahuano on the 22nd of October and I guess you ought to get this letter about a week before that date.
I now conclude with much love to each and all of you. I am your thinking long and lovingly husband.
A Cameron
PS I am sending draft in case the other gets lost. Edinburgh post 17th AC
Orita 20th September, 1929
My Dear Annie
I left Inverness at 11AM 17th and arrived at Waverly about 5 PM, put my [illegible] in the left luggage and then went by bus to Uphall. Arrived at Mrs. Gillies house about 6 PM and received a hearty welcome. I slept there for the night and returned to Edinburgh next forenoon had a look around then went down to Leith got to Mrs. Cameron house about 11 AM but would not know that I had ever seen her as she is greatly changed. Left a little after 12 noon. Will tell you more D.V. when I come home. I then had something to eat and then spent some time about the Old Rock. The memorial shrine for the Scottish regiments is a wonderful piece of work. Visited D. McKays widow and had a great welcome and then went back to Uphall in the late evening. Left the next morning about 8 AM and Princes St. then for Liverpool at 9:30 AM.
As soon as the train started I seemed to feel very pleased with myself and happy, that I really wondered. Quite a different state of mind than when I left Santa Catalina.
Harvest work is busy all over Scotland cutting and lading the more advanced parts that I seen are the Lothians, Moray-shire, Dingwall and Munlochy districts. Could not see much difference as to which part was more advanced the country [illegible]. Edinburgh as far as the border is better. It was poor harvest weather wet, mucky and very little sunshine.
Sept 19th Went on board the Orita at 1 PM and the ship was ready to start away about 3 PM in threatening weather and a choppy sea. Took a lot of passengers for the Falklands and Punta Arenas. As far as I know as yet I am the only passenger for Talcahuano.
Sept 20th was told this morning that it was a rather rough and stormy night. I slept soundly. This morning is a bit rough with showers. The Orita seems a very steady ship.
Sept 21st Arrive at La Pallice, France about 11 AM and ship crew are busy taking in merchandise of all descriptions principally for Chile. The rough weather is over and we are having a beautiful day, but inclined to be cold although there is not a cloud to be seen.
Sept 22nd Bay of Biscay. Up to now the Bay of Biscay behaved well. We took in a few Polakos in France. 3rd class a lot. 1st and 2nd class passengers are on board. The ship left the French port about 1 AM and we arrived in Santander about 3 PM took in about 30 passengers and some cargo for Chile and left at 5 PM. It is a beautiful working place. The sea seems to be getting a bit rough – not easy to write so good night.
Orita 23rd Arrived at Coruna this morning took on a lot of passengers for So. America and left for Vigo about 10AM and suspect to reach Vigo this evening. I noticed the Dr. Hamined very particularly the eyes of all who came on board. Had a beautiful day.
Sept 24th Got into Vigo last night about 7 PM. Took on about 180 passengers and also cargo for Chile and left about 11 PM. This is the last port of call in Europe next port will be St Vincent Cape de Verde islands (6 days sails) from there to Brazil 7 days sail. We have now a crowd of people in the 3rd class over 300 I am told. The role was called last night and all had to present passports in case of stowaways and a search made all over the ship before the steamer sailed. We will soon be out of the Bay of Biscay Looking out of the port hole I noticed a large flying fish, it flew quite a distance, I thought it was a strange bird, as I did not think flying fish was so far north.
Sept 25th A nice cloudy day nothing to be seen but lots of water. Had life belt drill this forenoon. With some diplomacy managed to get a cabin all to myself and is very comfortable. Nothing to bother me, except thinking of how thing are with you all in Chile or how you got over the winter. Plenty good food on this boat also.
Sept 26th Weather nice and cool this forenoon but got warmer toward evening. The Lewis man complaining of the heat. Passed the Canary Islands this afternoon quite close, but the weather was very hazy so could not see well.
Sept 27th as we are sailing off the African coast, the weather is very oppressive and warm. Even the Spaniards seem not to care to dance. I stay in my cabin most of the day as the awning on deck is so crowded. I only heard since I came on board the Orita that the Spaniards uses the bagpipes. They have a set on board but it seems a tame instrument in comparison to the highlands bagpipe.
Sept 28th The weather is better today as there is a nice breeze blowing. We arrived at the Cape du Nord island about 9 PM and it is quite disappointing as it is dark. We passed quite close to one island and could see nothing but the dark outline and then further along the ship seemed to be steaming head on to another island but seemed to think better of it and steamed past it and anchored not far from some kind of town to take on oil as the ship burns oil instead of coal. Some passengers came on board.
Sept 29th The ship left this morning early before it was light and is steaming S.W. for Brazil. Get up 5 AM wash my face, make up my bed, sweep out my cabin, pull some reading on deck, breakfast at 8 AM, dinner 12 noon, another feed 5 PM, tea, bread and butter. At 8 PM bed, 9 PM to read and sleep.
Sept 30th My 65 birthday is spent on the rolling ocean and it is just rolling and raining also. It is a good thing that I have a comfortable cabin and well aired and no one to molest me. The ship siren is blowing every few minutes. I was wondering if it was for my birthday and I was so put out when I found that it was because of the weather as they could not see any distance ahead owing to the storm and rain.
Oct 1st A fine cool windy day. Can see nothing but water but if we watch will notice lots of flying fish most them the size of locust. Expect to cross the line tonight.
Oct 2nd Nothing new but we crossed the Equator.
Oct 3rd Passed the island of Fernando de Noronha of the coast of Brazil and got a shower bath on deck by a big wave. The weather is fine, cool, cloudy and windy.
Oct 4th There is a good stir on board. A stowaway has been discovered. The Spaniards are collecting money to pay his passage. The only Chileno on board give him away to the Captain (Perro). He was blackmailing the poor Spaniard and as he would or could not give him more money and they quarreled.
Oct 5th Got into Bahia this morning before breakfast and the ship is now busy loading cocoa beans for Valparaiso and also bales of tobacco for Montevideo. [illegible] Bay fame of the cliffs looks blood red and I guess that is why it is called Brazil. Bahia is a large city. The town is built all above one side of the Bay on the highland. The steep face towards the top is as nature made it, some paddy of the face is cultivated with a house here and there but with scattered trees and shrubs all along. The narrow piece of level shore is also covered with buildup cliffs all along from the shore to the top. No one is allowed to go ashore as the ship will soon be leaving. It looks very pretty and has lots of palm trees growing throughout the town.
Oct 6th Left Bahia 12 noon yesterday. Nothing new. Ocean quite rough but slept well just like being rocked in a cradle. Weather fine and cool.
Oct 7th Reached Rio this afternoon. The entrance to the bay is something wonderful. What with island cliffs of all shapes culminating with Pan de Azucar. No pen of mine can describe the grandeur of it. Spent some hours ashore the city and capital of Brazil.
8th and 9th Oct. Nothing doing. Dull cloudy weather. I may close now. Kind regards to Lagos and Lucky and others and much love to all at home including San Bartolo folks and trusting that you are all well as this leaves me in the best of health. I am you ever loving husband.
A Cameron
Oct 10th We are sailing in a thick fog all day. The siren is blowing away for minutes. Just now the ship stopped to locate another ship or ships in the neighborhood whose sirens are blowing also. We might be in Montevideo tomorrow if all goes well. Trusting this will reach you in a few days
AC
P.S. Montevideo all is well. I will send a telegram from Talcahuano as to when I may be expected to reach Pua if the ships arrives in the 22nd In good time a telegram will be in Pua on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning.
AC
11.10.1929
Photograph Below: Alexander Cameron and his grandchildren. This picture is out of focus but most children can be identified as in the October 30th post (circa 1934)
I would like to highlight a passage from his second letter dated Sept 20, 1929: “As soon as the train started I seemed to feel very pleased with myself and happy, that I really wondered. Quite a different state of mind than when I left Santa Catalina.” (The underline is in the original letter).
I interpret this comment as his recognition that Chile had blessed him beyond his expectations. Although only two of his five children survived and married (John and Colina) photographs of the early 30's show him lovingly surrounded by his grandchildren. The fact that we remember him today is due to the loving way his children and grandchildren spoke of him and recalled his Scottish ways, such as playing the pipes, performing the sword dance with his kilt in flight, etc. Not a bad way to be remembered although far, far away from his very humble origins.
He died a faithful Seventh Day Adventist waiting for the Lords second coming.
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