which he had been engaged for many years； struck me as strange — though； as we know； elephants are adepts at the picking up of pins。
When I was missioner in America in 1905 I stayed with the Burnhams at their charming house in Pasadena； Los Angeles。 After I parted from them I travelled with another remarkable man； Mr。 Hays Hammond — who was once condemned to death with Jameson at Pretoria — across America in his private car； and spoke with him of Burnham。 Also I told him the strange tale of a certain odd gentleman of the name of Carmichael； now I believe long dead； who thought that he had discovered the secret of the hidden city of the Aztecs； that lies somewhere at the back of Chiapas； in which treasure to the value of three million sterling is supposed to have been concealed by Montezuma on the approach of the Spaniards。27 Thinking； from the documentary evidence； that there was something in this tale； a friend and I furnished Carmichael with a moderate sum of money to enable him to locate the place。 He set out； and after incredible hardships found the wrong city； or the wrong part of the right city； where his Indian carriers deserted him； leaving him suffering from fever to support life upon catfish； which he caught with a bent nail。 Ultimately he was rescued and brought back to civilisation。
26 This was the sacred treasure held by Montezuma as High Priest； which it took 1500 men to carry in bars of gold。 It must not be mixed up with the private royal treasure whereof I have already spoken； that was buried by Guatemoc — also to save it from the Spaniards。 — H。 R。 H。
Hays Hammond was so taken with this exciting narrative that he determined to send Burnham to look for the Aztec city； and telegraphed to him to e from San Francisco to New York to see him。 Needless to say； Burnham was quite ready for the adventure； and followed me to England to get particulars； among other business。 Whilst here a terrible thing befell him。 He had taken a little villa on the Thames； where he was living with his wife and a fine little boy； the brother of the child Nada。 One day the boy was missing。 His body was found in the Thames。 I was informed that when Burnham saw it he fell to the ground senseless as though he had been shot。
Afterwards he returned to America and started to look for the Aztec city； but was prevented from getting very far by a rebellion among the Indians。 His last letter to me was written from that district some four years ago。 I answered it； but since then have heard nothing from him。 I do not think that he is dead； as such news would probably have reached me one way or another； or Hays Hammond would have mentioned it when I had a hurried interview with him at the time of the King’s Coronation； which he attended as Special Ambassador from the United States。 I conclude； therefore； that Burnham is probably now engaged in all the Mexican fighting that has ensued upon the deposition of President Diaz； which leaves him no time for correspondence； or perhaps he is disinterring the treasure from the hidden city！ One day I hope that he will appear again and greet me in his quiet fashion as though we had parted but yesterday — I mean； of course； on this bank of the great “Divide。”
Chapter 18 RURAL ENGLAND
H。 R。 H。 returns to the country — Devotes himself to agriculture — “Farmer’s Year” — Arthur Young — Bradfield bust — Bobbin — Determines to follow Arthur Young’s example — Agreed with Daily Express for series of articles on Rural England — Visit to Cyprus and Holy Land — A Winter Pilgrimage — Rural England journeys — Heaviest labour of H。 R。 H。‘s life — Arthur Cochrane’s help — Hundreds of interviews — Practical results disappointing — Mr。 R。 W。 Hanbury — Agricultural Post — Lord Onslow — Mrs。 Asquith。
My town excitement over I returned to the country and the writing of books。 Oddly enough； I found that the thorough change of thought seemed to have rested my mind； with the result that my imagination was fresher than it had been for some years before。 Also the work itself was and has remained less irksome to me than during the years 1891 to 1895。 Still the desire haunted me to do something in my day more practical than the mere invention of romance upon romance。 By degrees it came home to me that a great subject lay to my hand； that of the state of English agriculture and of our rural population； also of all the questions thereto pertaining。
So forcefully did it e home that I grew to think and indeed to believe that I was appointed to serve my own； and perhaps other countries； by following up this neglected branch of research which to many has seemed so useless and so dull。 Therefore with a bold heart I gave all my spare time and energy to a study of the matter。
First I wrote the book that is called “A Farmer’s Year；” with the twofold purpose of setting down the struggles of those who were engaged in agriculture during that trying time； and of preserving for the benefit of future generations； if these should care to read of them； a record of the circumstances of their lives and of the condition of their industry in England in the year 1898。 In its way this book； which was first published serially in Longman’s Magazine — now； alas！ defunct； like most of the good magazines of my early days — proved extraordinarily successful。 It ost without exception； with great favour。 Also the letters that poured in upon me concerning it were almost without number； they still continue to arrive。 But； pared with my romances； it brought me in but a small amount of money。 For this there were several reasons。 It was published at too low a price — 7s。 6d。 — whereby Charles Longman and I hoped to put it within the reach of all； also the charming illustrations by my friend Mr。 Leon Little； of which I have the originals in this house； involved a good deal of expenditure。
The chief reason； however； is very simple。 The British public as a whole is a nation of town dwellers and not rural in its tastes。 It wants novels to read； not works that deal with agriculture in however interesting a fashion。 He who treats of such subjects must do so at his own cost and be content to take his pay in honour and glory。 Well； as I never expected anything else； I was not disappointed in this lack of financial results。 My objects were； as I have said； quite different。 I set them out so clearly in the little preface which I wrote some years later for the “Silver Library” Edition of the work； that I will venture to quote it here：
In Ancient Egypt the gentleman farmers of the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties whilst yet alive caused their future sepulchres to be adorned with representations of such scenes of daily life and husbandry as to them were most pleasant and familiar。
The study of these paintings and reliefs has delighted me much today； as it did when first I visited them in 1887。 Whilst considering them it occurred to me that in this book； by means of the methods of my own age； I have unconsciously attempted to follow the example of the authors of these rock…hewn manuscripts who lived some fifty centuries ago。
Perhaps； I thought to myself； in times to be； when all is changed again save the eternal ways of Nature that are the ways of God； the word…pictures of my pages also may thus interest and instruct unborn men of tastes akin to mine。
Such is my hope。
It would please me to write another “Farmer’s Year” arranged upon a similar plan； setting forth my further agricultural experiences throughout an entire year； now that I farm on a larger scale and more scientifically than I did； especially in the matter of milk…production。 I greatly doubt； however； whether at my age and with so much work in front of me； I shall ever find the opportunity； especially as the production of such a book involves constant residence on one spot from January to December。
I followed up “A Farmer’s Year” by reading a paper on the Rural Exodus before the Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture on May 6； 1899； which is printed at the end of that volume； and moving the following Resolution that； after discussion； was carried unanimously：
This Chamber respectfully calls the attention of Her Majesty’s Government to the continued and progressive shrinkage of the rural population in the Eastern Counties； and especially of those adult members of it who are described as skilled agricultural labourers。
In view of the grave and obvious national consequences which must result if this exodus continues； the Chamber prays that Her Majesty’s Government will as soon as may be convenient make its causes the subject of Parliamentary inquiry and report with a view to their mitigation or removal。
On May 30th in the same year I moved a similar Resolution before the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture in London where； after criticism and discussion； it was also unanimously carried。
In January 1900 I went with my family to Florence； where we stayed with my sister…inlaw； Mrs。 John Haggard； whose husband was at that time Consul in Noumea； whither he could not take his children。 It was the year of the Boer War； and a melancholy business I found it to spell out the tale of our disasters in the Italian papers。 The Times had asked me if I would care to go to South Africa as one of