Letter

Scope and Content

From on board the SS Rajputana (P & O.S.N. Shipping Company) off Bombay. This is Emily's forty-seventh birthday - see how well he has remembered. They are due in Bombay at 4.30 and sail again at midnight. These oil-driven boats do not stay as long in port as the others. H B R is hiring a car with three others so they can maximise their time.

They had a few hours ashore in Aden and walked around for a while. He joined the Hartleys who are very nice people, but do not come over to 2nd Class very much.

In the evening there was a very good service with all kinds of people there - all 2nd Class. There are points about the passengers which are very interesting - fewer than a dozen of the men do not wear evening dress. There is dancing every night and the women compete to see who can display the most back. Quite a number only have two straps from their shoulders to the small of their backs. He supposes that is the fashion.

He has read through the American Laymen's Commission's report on their visitation of the [unreadable word]. They have adopted the N.C.C. view on everything, including even the Shanghai incident. H B R has therefore written a long critique to [William Alexander] Grist. The report will do harm if seriously considered especially as most men are sheep.

The people on the boat are all very friendly. They keep late hours and there is something happening every night. He hopes that he has a cabin to himself from now on, where he can make up some sleep.

It will be their nineteenth wedding anniversary this September.

Personal matters are discussed. It will be a lonely house with only Peter there now, but that should mean that Emily can get some rest if life is sorted out properly. 'There is nothing to beat a little Methodism yet either in religion or organisation of money or time'.

Everybody is wondering about the Irish elections. If [Eamon] DeValera is displaced it will cause a great deal of disorder in Ireland, but returning prosperity for the two countries [Ireland and Britain] and a help to India. 'If he is re-elected it will mean further distresses for that distressed country & for everyone else'. The League of Nations may forbid nations to make war, but what can be done about rebels and strikes?

One of their table, Mrs Evan Rees of the [London Missionary Society] disembarks today for Calcutta. She is a good sort but always talking about herself.