Letter 5, 10th March 1931
now I suppose you'll say it’s Napoo! Can't you manage something? With your store
of memories, it should be as easy as makes no matter. Do try.
Sorry for writing at such length – and about myself. Bad plan. But I always seem
to run on, when I scribble to you. Not to others.
- Best of luck in the New Year.
- Best of luck in the New Year.
- Yours ever
- Yours ever
- L. A. Bethell
- L. A. Bethell
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Letter 5, 10th March 1931
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New Clan
Dorking
10 . III . 31
My dear Bailey,
Thanks for yours of 14th February. I am glad you are taking advice
for Kulu. It is an enchantment – especially in peace and quiet and the deodars – but
the people are ‘orrid: men without courage or honesty – and women without shame –
both sexes honey combed with venereal, so I should watch the plates and cups at
dak bungalows and have ‘em wiped down before you use them. If, as I hope, you get
as far up the valley as MANAULI, climb up with the BASHIST Nullah, just above,
where bears are confiding and frequent – black and red. I don't know if I said this in
my last letter – wish I were coming with you. I've been shivering for four months, and
for a week we've been deep in snow.
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They seem to be doing you well in shikar, where you are – tigers and things. I
remember your crowd well, at the Turban-ation in 1903: very mediaeval – and a
procession of retainers, stuck about all over with mistri-made cutlery, mounted on
pink-nosed squealing stallions: taught, if I remember rightly, to walk wild in arena on
their hind legs, and beating time with their forelegs in the air – the rider most
insecurely perched. They got more cheers than all the upholstered elephants.
Yes – I expect there will be some headaches when the Princes try to make head
or tail of the present negotiations. It is only in the last few weeks that we have had
any “lux in tenebris” over here: and now that Churchill has taken a strong lead, and
had some brainy men behind him, he has induced that
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