1 2nd week ofAugust. Dear Reverend Father Provincial, P.C. I don't know if your Reverence has received
any letters I wrote from foreign parts. I learnt on my return from
one ofour journeys that the mails that left Bombay for England
on 7 July last were lost. Now the cheque I sent you is dated
in my cheque-book 26.6.'17 and it may very likely be, as the
soldier says, 'na poohed'. I mentioned the fact that I had sent
the cheque in a second letter which may have got through. If
you let me know how matters stand I shall be obliged. We have already done two trips with our ship. The 'beat'
is by no means an ideal one in monsoon weather. For three
days going you have a monsoon sea, and then for two or three
days a roasting Gulf, which,mutatio mutandis, is
repeated on the homeward journey. At present heat stroke
is very bad in Mesopotamia, and most of our patients
are knocked out by it alone. The end of this
month should see an improvement. Fr O'Mahony's
boat is still here, but I think we shall miss one
another this time as as my boat only stays a week. We get scraps of Irish news in the Indian papers. I
believe the Convention is expected to do something
one of these days. Have any of the newly-ordained
or the prospective 'Tullabeggars' donned the khaki ? I forget if I mentioned a meeting I had in Durban
with a Mr Power. He was a Jesuit once and got
as far as Philosophy or Theology. He knew you very well.
He is employed in a book-stores in Durban. I met him at
the Cathedral. I believe he writes very well in defence ofthe Faith. I recommend myself toYour Reverence's Masses & prayers. Francis M.Shaw S.J.