Octover 22, 1957

Dear Prof. Haldane:

My wife and I were most pleased to reccive your letter of the
l4th, just received: to confimm your sate establishment in Calcutta,
to verify our preliminary arrangements, and for the delightful
spirit of the suggested ways we might spend our time in Balouttea,

In the face of that, I am sorry to have +o mention that we
have to abbreviate our stay in India even more, in order to meet
conflicting reauirements,. According to our present itinerary, which
I hope is now fairly definite, we will arrive es previously
scheduted: from Berth to Calcutta on Qantas 533, published as
Thursday, Nov. 7, 3:30 PM. (This flight doas not touch down at
Rangoon, but I will see if I can locate those ‘Burma Cheroots' at
Singapore, Bangkok, or in flight.) - oe

As we will have to leave Bombay on Phurcdey— Wednesday, Nov. 13,
we have booked to fly from Calcutta to Bombay on the inteyvening
Sunday (Flight IAC 166;9900-1440). This is possibly alterable, as-
we have not yet had confirmation from Bombay. This means one day less
in Calcutta than our previous plan. °

Thank you very much for your offer of hospitality, which we
are pleased to accept. We're no alcoholiphiles—- if you suggest we
should import some on your account, please let us know. But I hepe
our taste in food will cause you no trouble: both Esther and I
found our palates too uneducated even for a curry which our
friends in Fiji assured us was only mildly spiced, so our adven-
turousness in this direction has been inhibited, Esther reacts
unkindly to seafood, especially if undercooked,

As to your suggestions, most of them sound quite appealing,
but particularly the ones that shouldn'+ require an advance
itinerary, We don't know anyons else an Caleutta—— I'd be most
interestingad to hear just what you andyour wife are doing your-
selves, The lectures are OK: that is Friday eve. 2nd Sat AM. I
hope you can keep lab tours to a Minimum, if not zero; whyft not
talk while seeing the what we won't see the Bane of at home.

One day for 22,5, and 6 (with not too much of 22, the jute)

sounds capital; another for 3,4,7 and 8, possibly spread tc
Thursday too if we arrive on time and not limp, should nat be

too strenuous, With the exception of] (labs) and 10 (mountains),
the whole program is enticing. These two items will keep, as you
say, for a later visit. I hope you will be able to explain to your
colleagues if we don't seem too eager to visit them chez lab. on
our very first days. Have I told yoy enough? Don't fear to take
matters in your own hands, if not. .

We'll look for you at the airport-- you will of course take
Care to fonfirm actual arrival time with Qantas locally. If any-
thing comes up you can reach us in Perth or Adelaide, as indica-

a.41 Baw ene FP Ti bb nw