Item 106 - Letter from R. C. Trevelyan to Sir George Trevelyan

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Ajanta. - Describes their 'strenuous' time since leaving Bombay on 25 October, though they are 'none the worse for it': they went to Daulatabad then Ellora, where they saw a number of cave-temples; the situation was 'very impressive' though in general the sculpture was 'disappointing'; they also visited ruins of two ancient Moghul cities. In one, Roza [Rauzaa, now Khuldabad], they saw the 'plain and simple' tomb of Aurangzeb. Went by rail to Jalgaon on 28 October, then drove to Ajanta next day; they are staying in a small bungalow to which they had to bring their own provisions and bedding. The caves, four miles away, are in a 'most romantic gorge', and are 'far finer than those at Ellora and Elephanta'; the art would 'hold its own with the best Italian frescos'. They bathed in a 'wonderful' pool at the top of the gorge. Will start at midday on the drive back to Jalgaon, where they will catch the express train to Lahore; [Goldsworthy Lowes] Dickinson will stay there with a friend, and Robert with his old schoolmate Stowe, who is in the Indian Civil Service. After a week there and in Peshawar, they will go on to Delhi, then on to Rajputana. They made friends on the ship with a young officer stationed at Peshawar [Kenneth Searight] who will take them for a drive up the Khyber Pass.

So far, they have kept well and borne the heat easily. Heard from Bessie as they were leaving Bombay, and was glad that she, Julian, and everyone else at Wallington were well; expects she will now have gone South. Hopes his father's 'expedition to Stratford was a success'. Caught up with the English newspapers at Bombay and has seen Indian newspapers since; seems that Turkey is 'faring badly' [in the First Balkan War]; is 'not sorry, and hope[s] if the allies will they will be allowed to make whatever settlement of European Turkey they think best without interference from outside'. Did not sympathise with the Italians in their 'Tripoli adventure' [Italo-Turkish War] but does with the Balkan States. They have seen no snakes, tigers, or elephants, but saw three gazelles a couple of evenings ago, and have seen the 'tracks of a pantha' in the Ajanta gorge. Have enjoyed themselves so far, but he will be glad to get 'back to civilisation' at Lahore. Their Madras servant seems 'good and conscientious'.