Great Eastern Hotel, Calcutta. - Reached Calcutta last Friday and will stay for at least another week, before going to Darjeeling for a couple of nights then on to Madras; they may stay at Puri for two nights. Thinks they will leave Ceylon for Java by the boat on 7 February; discusses the best place to address further letters. His mother's letter has only just reached him; is glad Bessie and Julian are so well. He and Dickinson are both well, having a 'very interesting time' at Calcutta and meeting some 'quite interesting Bengalis'. It has been 'quite tiring', and he is glad to be getting into the country tonight to see the Tagores' school. The Bengalis are 'a much more civilized people than the other Northern Indians' or at least it is only here they have found 'some really intellectual society', at which the Tagores and their family are at the centre; 'various Chaudhuris and Dr Bose, an eminent scientist... are all relations or friends of the Tagores'. Has been 'disappointed in the paintings of the two Tagore painters [Abanindranath and Gaganendranath]' but they are very nice people; has made friends with 'a poetess, a widow' [Priyamvada Devi?]; some of her poems, which she translates, are 'quite good, though not so remarkable as her relative [Rabindranath] Tagore's'. Dr [Jagadish Chandra?] Bose has showed them his experiments proving 'that plants have heart-beats and a circulation of sap', and took them for a row on the Hoogly [river]. Visited Gaya on the way here and saw where Buddha 'attained enlightenment'; the temple had been 'spoiled, but some fine sculpture was left'. The 'attempted assassination' [on the Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge] is 'very unfortunate', but should not make any difference to the government's general polity; does not think there is 'any general discontent just now, certainly less than a few years ago'.
Calcutta (on headed notepaper of the Hindusthan Co-operative Insurance Company Ltd. - Very kind of Trevelyan to remember about the introduction to [G. H.?] Hardy in the middle of his travels. Is not yet sure of his programme, but will probably be in England by the middle of April, and stay for at least a month, so if nothing prevents him from making the journey he will 'look forward to the pleasure of seeing you again in your home'. Sends best wishes to Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson.
Grand Hotel des Wagon-Lits, Peking. - Has just returned from Nankou: was drenched with rain as he walked down the pass, but found the scenery magnificent. Has had a full and fatiguing six weeks in Peking 'diversified by a fall from a dray and concussion of the head'. Discusses the political situation; the people are 'even more attractive and fascinating' than he found them at first. Says he is clearly 'Chinese not Indian' though believes he was Indian between the age of 20 and 25 and 'could have become an ascetic' with encouragement. Kung has not appeared, but Dickinson has met other Chinese, including Ku Hing-Ming [Gu Hongming], a linguistic genius. Expects to leave tomorrow for Tai Shan [Mount Tai] and Confucius' birthplace in Shantung [Shandong]; Dr Yetts goes with him, and R. F. Johnston is there. He will then go to Japan at the end of the month. Will be sorry to miss Surendranath Tagore, 'the most distinguished person' he met in India. The foreign community here is perhaps even more limited than it is in India; if he lived in China, he would become a 'sinologue', avoiding all Europeans, like Blackburn [?]. His health has been quite good, apart from some digestive trouble. Sends love to Bessie, and hopes Trevelyan's writing is going well.