61. To Henry S. Salt

Camp Hardoi,
October 12th, 1929

HENRY S. SALT, ESQ.,

21, CLEVELAND ROAD,

BRIGHTON (ENGLAND)

DEAR FRIEND,

I was agreeably surprised to receive your letter. Yes, indeed your book which was the first English book I came across on vegetarianism was of immense help to me in steadying my faith in vegetarianism. My first introduction to Thoreau's writings was I think in 1907 or late when I was in the thick of passive resistance struggle. A friend sent me Thoreau's essay on civil disobedience. It left a deep impression upon me. I translated a portion of that essay for the readers of Indian Opinion in South Africa which I was then editing and I made copious extracts from that essay for that paper. That essay seemed to be so convincing and truthful that I felt the need of knowing more of Thoreau and I came across your life of him. His 'Walden' and other short essays all of which I read with great pleasure and equal profit.

Yours sincerely,
M.K. Gandhi

From a photostat: S.N. 15663