1938

Episkopi, Cyprus,

March 13, 1938Dear Mr. Hill,

Here I am safely back in Cyprus again. The boat turned out to be the kerkyra, the slowest and smallest of the lot, but nevertheless rather pleasant. We had warm weather and beautifully smooth seas all the way, so it was a very pleasant trip.

I found everything here in very good condition, Kourion and Apollo particularly so. Christo says that the Princess Royal and Earl of Harewood visited the site while on their trip here. Christo was warned of the impending visit, so he hired a staff of women to clean out all the weeds from both Apollo and the Palace, with the result that they look unusually well. He says that our royal visitors stayed more than an hour and went over everything in considerable detail. Christo says that they seemed interested and asked many questions about us, when we planned to return, how long we expected to work at Kourion, etc.

I have found Jayne's letter to me about my stipend, and quote the relevant passages. This follows after a statement that he would do what he could to help me with my fellowship. "Meanwhile Mr. McFadden cabled Mr. Hill, I understand, relaying the news that we felt it possible to give you cooperation at the rate of $50 a month when on the dig, and I hope this meets with your approval. It is not much, to be sure, but the best we could manage." "When I hear from you please let me know what arrangements you wish made to recieve these payments."

I am going [handwritten: ] to town tomorrow with your trunk, to have it opened and see if the lock can be fixed. I will look for the plans Virginia wants, and send them off to her if they are there. I sent her prints of the Lapithos photographs, and returned the films to your house, via Piet de Jong, whom I met on the bus on my way up. I slipped into the box a few extra prints which they were not ordered and were none too good anyway. The photographs cost dr.67.00, the envelope I sent them in 0.50, the postage only 1.60; the total expense for Lapithos photos being 69.10 drachmae.

I took the liberty of spending the advance you gave me for Kourion expenses rather differently than planned. I had a long visit with Yanni the mender in the Agora, in the course of which I added considerably to my knowledge of mending. Through him I ordered four spatulae of his own design for plaster work, which are a vast improvement over what we have been using. I also bought some special marble glue, which will come in very handy on some of George's things. Gianni also got me some really good plasteline: that they sent us from Philadelphia is too greasy. In order to make ends meet I didn't get any more catalogue cards, but I think that we have enough for the time-being. Incidentally you certainly are right about the difference in price between Pallis and the St. Mark's street paper shop in pencils and such. Koh I Noors are 10 there whereas they are either 14 or 16 at Pallis. I brought several notebooks they will be more than welcome. I can't find any here, and will need one immediately. I am afraid that I will have to take notes in something else unless I discover one tucked away somewhere.

OVER

Printed: Archer ? March ?