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