interested in Oriental literature." These
erotic books in one form or another are in the hands of 200,000,000 of
Orientals. Surely, argued Arbuthnot, a few genuine English students--a
few, grave, bald-headed, spectacled, happily married old gentlemen--may
read them without injury. [393] The modern student seeks his treasure
everywhere, and cares not into what midden he may probe so long as he
finds it. No writer on 18th century French History, for example, would
nowadays make half apologies, as Carlyle did, for having read Casanova.
Indeed, he would lay himself open to censure unless he admitted having
studied it carefully. Still, every genuine and right-minded student
regards it as a duty to keep books such as these, which are unsuited for
the general public, under lock and key--just as the medical man treats
his books of plates and other reference volumes. Then again it is
entirely a mistake to suppose that the works issued or contemplated by
the Kama Shastra Society were all of them erotic. Two out of the six
actually done: The Beharistan and The Gulistan, and the whole of the
nine still in manuscript, might, after a snip or two with the scissors,
be read aloud in almost any company.

We have the first hint of the Kama Shastra Society in a letter to Payne,
5th August 1882. "I hope," says Burton, "you will not forget my friend,
F. F. Arbuthnot, and benefit him by your advice about publishing when
he applies to you for it. He has undertaken a peculiar branch of
literature--the Hindu Erotic, which promises well." On Dec. 23th he
writes: "My friend Arbuthnot writes to me that he purposes calling upon
you. He has founded a society consisting of himself and myself." After
further reference to the idea he adds, "I hope that you will enjoy it."
A few days later Mr. Arbuthnot called on Mr. Payne. Mr. Payne did not
"enjoy" the unfolding of the Kama Shastra scheme, he took no interest in
it whatever; but, of course, he gave the information required as to cost
of production; and both then and subsequently assisted in other matters
of business. Moreover, to Mr. Arbuthnot himself, as a man of great
personal charm, Mr. Payne became sincerely attached, and a friendship
resulted that was severed only by death.

The arrangement about financing the books did not, of course, apply to
The Arabian Nights. That was Burton's own affair; for its success was
supposed to be assured from the first. Of the books other than The
Arabian Nights p