," and wishes the Society "God speed," while in that of 13th
August 1888, he laments the trifling results that followed his own
and Arbuthnot's efforts in behalf of Orientalism. "We [The Gypsy Lore
Society]" he says, "must advance slowly and depend for success upon
our work pleasing the public. Of course, all of us must do our best to
secure new members, and by Xmas I hope that we shall find ourselves on
the right road. Mr. Pincherle writes to me hopefully about his practical
studies of Gypsy life in Trieste. As regards Orientalism in England
generally I simply despair of it. Every year the study is more wanted
and we do less. It is the same with anthropology, so cultivated in
France, so stolidly neglected in England. I am perfectly ashamed of our
wretched "Institution" in Hanover Square when compared with the palace
in Paris. However, this must come to an end some day."

On 13th August 1888, Burton writes to Mr. A. G. Ellis from "The
Langham," Portland Place, and sends him the Preface to the last
Supplemental Volume with the request that he would run his eye over it.
"You live," he continues, "in a magazine of learning where references
are so easy, and to us outsiders so difficult. Excuse this practical
proof that need has no law." On September 26th he sent a short note to
Mr. Payne. "Arbuthnot," he said, "will be in town on Tuesday October
2nd. What do you say to meeting him at the Langham 7 p.m. table d'hote
hour?.... It will be our last chance of meeting."

Sir Richard and Lady Burton, Dr. Baker, Arbuthnot, and Payne dined
together on the evening appointed; and on October 15th Burton left
London, to which he was never to return alive.

156. The Supplemental Nights. 1st December 1886-1st August 1888.

The translation of the Supplemental Nights, that is to say, the
collection of more or less interesting Arabian tales not included in the
Nights proper, was now completed. The first volume had appeared in 1886,
the last was to be issued in 1888. Although containing old favourites
such as "Alaeddin," "Zayn Al Asnam," "Ali Baba," and the "Story of the
Three Princes," the supplemental volumes are altogether inferior to the
Nights proper. Then, too, many of the tales are mere variants of the
versions in the more important work. Burton's first two supplemental
volumes are from the Breslau text, and, as we said, cover the same
ground as Mr. Payne's Tales from the Arabic. In both he followed Mr.
Payne closely, as wil