BR TO ALYS RUSSELL, [24 APR. 1908]
BRACERS 21104. ALS. McMaster
Proofread by K. Blackwell

Palermo
Friday 11 p.m.

Dearest Alys

This must be a short letter as it is late. Yesterday I went up to Monreale by train, and walked to Piana dei Greci, a village settled by Albanians in the 15th century, and still speaking Albanian and belonging to the Greek church. The others had preceded me there, except Wright who has gone home. It was a most interesting and amusing occasion. The women, most of whom were beautiful, were wearing a special costume they have for great occasions — it was St. John’s Day. At first they wanted us all 5 to sleep in one bed, and it required some hours of argument to make them relent. Today still following Garibaldi’s route we walked by exquisite hill-paths through fields carpeted with sweet-smelling flowers to Marinea and Misilmeri —then, as Waterfield was done up, and as a train was nearly due, he and I decided to do the rest (10 miles) by train, but our train was 2 hours late, so I dined at 9.30, having had nothing to eat all day but a few scraps. Tomorrow at 8.40 Mayor and I start for Girgenti, getting back here at midnight. My plan of getting home Wednesday night 10.45 Ch. X. holds, unless I miss the connection at Basle, in which case it will be early next morning. I shall be glad of a day in town. I will look out for thee at Ch. X. but not be surprised if thee can’t be there. Good news thee gives of the Ls. Bill.

Thine aff.
Bertie