Page:FM Bailey letters from LA Bethell.pdf/8

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.


 * Yours ever


 * 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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