T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 645

To Ernest Mackay, Mrs. I. Arbuthnot-Herredon, had stayed 10 days with H. at Hotaygo excavat- -ions, she came with a "materialization". Rently, (Hand-written on the obverse paper). 19.1.28 558174, A/C Shaw Room 2, Est-8. RAF Depot Drigg Road Dear Mackay selves, and the objects of general envy and admiration. They came back in great form, delighted with them- I am sorry they stayed so long. It was a tax upon the kindness of Mrs. Mackay and yourself. However you have acquired reports of the Taoerno in and... has not made the five entries on your conduct tho... an still ne is rligat-. They told me that you still hoped I'd make a chance to run up: but I fear it is out of the quostion. Unless the R.A.F. order me to move. I intend to stay within the bounds of this area for the duration of my spell in India. After all, a year has passed. There shonld be no blane four to do . . . and there may be only two. Do you see that Woolley has found some more gold stuffs ? Drugs, horrid drugs, in the eyes of archaeologists but the big public gape after these things. Full pages in the illustrated. You have bringht to light for the new status of archaeology. Woe's me, I suppose I'll never dig anything again. However, put me back in England and you can keep your East ! With best regards Yours ever T.E. Shaw Incidentally they returned me your ramlal, thinking it was mine ! We ... getting it back for you - we are ... - trying too, to find something as big & strong to go with it ! Yours T.E.