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such folk were supposed to haunt this very desert of which I was writing。
Imagine； therefore； my astonishment when； in a copy of his “Notes de Voyage” for 1909 which Sir Gaston Maspero kindly sent me — “The Way of the Spirit” was written in 1905 — I found the following passage：
Ces quatre…la sont…ils allies aux quatre afrites musiciens； deux joueurs de flute et deux joueurs de tambourin ou de darabouka； qui hantent le desert dans les memes parages？ Ils jouent sur le passage des voyageurs et c’est toujours un mauvais presage que de les rencontrer： si on s’eloigne vite sans leur adresser la parole et； autant que possible； sans les regarder； on a quelque chance d’echapper au mauvais sort； sinon l’on est perdu。
It will be observed that here everything is the same； mise en scene； misfortune； all。 There is but one difference。 Of Sir Gaston’s afrites； or musical ghosts； there were four； of my wandering players； five。 I have added a third flutist by way of interest on the capital of the true legend。
Perhaps these examples of literary coincidence in my own books may suffice； though I think there are more。 Indeed I recall two in connection with “Heart of the World” and “Ayesha” respectively； which are curious enough in their way。 Also as I write it es back to me that there are yet two others which； as I am on the subject； I may as well state quite briefly。
The first of these is to be found in “Montezuma’s Daughter。” Here the hero； a certain Thomas Wingfield； is stated to have lived near Bungay in the reign of Elizabeth； and to have been a doctor by trade； having learned his business from another leech in this immediate neighbourhood。 After many adventures he dies here a rich man and leaves charities to the poor。 Certainly I did think it strange when； subsequent to the writing of the book； I discovered from Mr。 Herbert Hartcup； the lawyer； who is a trustee of the Bungay Charities； that a man called Thomas Wingfield did live and die at that exact time； that he was a doctor who served his apprenticeship with another local leech； that in some way or other he did accumulate wealth of which he bequeathed a portion to the poor that they enjoy to this day； and that his will； which I have since seen； was just such a one as might have been written by the imaginary Thomas。 Almost am I tempted to believe that the true Wingfield must have visited Mexico in the days of Cortes； and that； if one were to dig up his bones； among them would be found the necklace of great emeralds which was given to him by Guatemoc in the hiding…place of Montezuma’s treasure。
The last specimen is very simple。 While visiting an old church in Suffolk I conceived the idea of my novel； “Joan Haste；” of which it is unnecessary to set out the plot。 After reading it a connection of mine remarked that he had been much interested by the book； though he did not think that the A。…Z。‘s； whom he knew well； would altogether appreciate such an accurate report of a passage in their family history whereof they did not often speak。 Also he was nervous lest it should be supposed by them that he had told me a story which was municated to him in confidence。 On further investigation it transpired that these A。…Z。‘s were buried in the very churchyard where I had imagined my tale； and that their family owned and still own all the land by which it is surrounded。
It needs no great stretch of fancy to believe that in some subtle way the bones beneath the soil of that churchyard had imparted some of their history to my mind while； touched by the place； I stood there evolving the material for another book。
Before I finally leave the subject of romance…writing I should like to say a few words upon a certain point。 I have been a good deal attacked because there is much fighting in many of my more imaginative works； which fighting necessarily involves the death of men； the inference being that to write of such things is not desirable。 I would ask； Why not？ However painful the fact； it remains true that man is a fighting animal； and that from the time of Homer down； and probably for tens of thousands of years before it； some of his finest qualities — such as patriotism； courage； obedience to authority； patience in disaster； fidelity to friends and a noble cause； endurance； and so forth — have been evolved in the presence of war； as we need go no further than the pages of the Old Testament to learn。 Is it not better to write of hard； clean； honest fighting than； for instance； of treacherous and sickening murder？ Will any young man be the worse for the lesson that his hands were given him to defend his head； and； if need be； his country’s honour； with that of all who are dear to him？ I think not。
It is true that in such a book as “Nada the Lily” there is much slaughter。 But all this is a matter of history。 A tale of the days of Chaka which left out his slayings and battles would be false to the facts and merely ludicrous。 Omelets cannot be made without the breaking of eggs。 Would such critics then argue that this tale and others like it should be left untold？ If so； I hold that they are wrong； since these give a picture which； from the circumstances of my youth； perhaps I alone in the world can paint； not only of some very remarkable men； but of a state of savage society which has now passed away and may never recur。
Further； is there not some hypocrisy in such cavilling in an age when all the great nations of the world are arming themselves to the teeth for that Armageddon which one day must e？ And do not some of the very papers in which it appears fill their columns with nauseous and most particular accounts of dreadful and degrading crimes； such as the betrayal and butchery of a defenceless woman； dilating on them from day to day till the reader is sickened？ Of which is it the more harmful to read — of a fight between the splendid Zulu impis； faithful to death； of old Umslopogaas holding the stair against overpowering odds； or； let us say； of the dismemberment of a wife or the massacre of little children by some human brute or lunatic？
Personally I hate war； and all killing； down to the destruction of the lower animals for the sake of sport； has bee abominable to me。 But while the battle…clouds bank up I do not think that any can be harmed by reading of heroic deeds or of frays in which brave men lose their lives。
What I deem undesirable are the tales of lust； crime； and moral perversion with which the bookstalls are strewn by dozens。
Chapter 17 POLITICS AND TOWN LIFE
H。 R。 H。‘s political views — Bred a Tory — Cross…bench mind — Strong Imperialist — Asked to stand for King’s Lynn — Declined — Co…director of African Review — Undertook later to contest East Norfolk — Difficult constituency for Conservative — Beaten by 198 votes — Stood in the agricultural interest — Specially interested in S。 African affairs — Cecil Rhodes — Retired from African Review — Death of H。 R。 H。‘s father — Elected chairman of local bench — Major Burnham — Some of his adventures — Major Cheyne。
Ever since I came to manhood I have taken an interest in politics； though at first it was the foreign branch of the subject that attracted me most。 Like most country squires my f