January–April 1954

Curium 22 Mar 54

Dear Rodney:

Yrs. of the 17th this afternoon. We seem to be straightened away for clear sailing now, I think. Jack will await him now that we can take care of him one way or the other, safely assure him the Bollingen application blanks. I feel I can falling back on the residue, if worst comes to worst. As you say, both for him & Hannah. I'd hate to run the risk of having to go through the mill again: an awful bore. Maybe you'd better send the driver's license application on. I will take care of Habelt: shall ask if he is willing for us to retain set until September. He probably won't squawk too much, since probably he can't get another set in a hurry. I will do as you suggest regarding the remainder of the books and the equipment. Christophis says the only theodolite that was ever here was sent to Gordon, and he knows that one was there when he visited since he used it there.

With regard to C, the copy of my letter from the Colonial Secretary which I sent you this morning should augur that the government may permit the estate to kakexwak exchange its excess pounds also. So probably the payment for C can be arranged without pain to anyone. Sir Panyotis has conferred and has also written for a ruling on this matter to the same office. I am certainly relieved that we don't have to worry about that matter any more.

Certainly no need to press Oriental Institute exchange now. I guess Helene will be home by fall. She is to join Machteld at some point during the summer, and may return here in June before she does.

Peter stopped by for lunch today. I have told him to go ahead with excavation plans for Sotira and that we will supply the £120 and the fill deficit. I have also given him a full account of your feelings about the Sotira publication; think he can best curb Dikaios, if there is need. Thank you and Gloria for looking into Sotira matters there; we know where we stand, anyhow.

John Seltman expects to be with us after a week or two to spend some time on the Theatre-Palace sherds. He won't be able to give us the six weeks I had hoped because of lack of staff in his work; but I hope he can eat a respectable hole in them, anyhow. Nathalie is producing again the end of May.

We had a splendid trip to the Karpas. The enclosed list of the kodachrome I took (sent to Rochester today) gives the itinerary. I fell absolutely, hopelessly, head over heels in love with the idea of digging the sanctuary of Aphrodite Acraea some day. It's at the very very tip of the Karpas peninsula, with two harbors for ships to anchor before setting out to sea. One suspects it might have everything, from earliest inhabitants of Cyprus on down. The statue feet delighted me. The weather was dim, but I hope some of the pictures will convey its charms.