present in the reader’s mind.  I need only instance 
the 46th, 40th, 38th, 31st, 29th, 28th, and the in-
famous 21st day as examples of what I mean.  The 
secret of the 10th day is peculiarly obscure, and 
apparently refers to some long-past event in the 
author’s life.  To turn for a moment to an examin-
tion of the facts as found in the poem. 
1st day.—They are on a tropical island in the 
Pacific. 
6th day and 11th.—The man is a meddler with 
magic and a believer in the Theosophical 
Doctrines of Evolution (4th day), and yet also 
in existence of Gods.* 
8th day.—He calls his island “ the extreme west 
of all the world.” 
16th day.—“ Alice ” had a husband living (where 
is mentioned in 48th day, but not printed now) 
and a boy was travelling with her. 
22nd day.—There is a talk of going to Japan. 
 
*I have asked Sri Abhavananda, the eminent European 
Buddhist, and he is quite clear that the author has practi-
cally no knowledge of true Buddhism, and less than no 
claim to describe himself as an adherent.  See Day the 38th. 
 
xvi