Pièce 157 - Letter from Gordon Luce to R. C. Trevelyan

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Carlton House, Rangoon. - His great disappointment at Trevelyan's failure to come out to Burma: quotes from Shelley's "The Revolt of Islam"; only E.M.F. [Forster's] failure could match it. Burma is as worth seeing as India: Rangoon is worth a visit, Moulmein [Mawlamyine] magnificent, according to reports, Mandalay charming and Pagan [Bagan] very interesting. The people are the 'main sight of the country': describes them at length: their clothing, appearance and physique, dance, music and acting. They have a common passion for the theatrical performance called the pwe; Luce has seen all varieties of this, from a primitive stage in the jungle to the grand annual Wingaba Pwe, which he describes in detail: the crowds and general scene, as well as the chief actors, Aung Battla [Aung Bala?] and Po Sein. The letter may be incomplete as there is no extant signature but two postscripts, one initialled: Luce is sorry [Goldie] Dickinson has been ill and discusses his own health; he works hard, 'happily among Burmans' at the College, owns a racehorse which keeps him rich, and spends weekends in the jungle sailing and hunting. All the English people are in Rangoon are 'prim or ignoble' apart from one lady, leaving tomorrow, who plays him Scarlatti and Flemish folk songs. Is writing 'bumptious poems.' Is very fond of the chief Burmans, but lives alone. Sends love to Dickinson. Has told Keynes to send him Trevelyan's poems.