Dear Sir
Robert Fisk (25th September) got his quote from Kipling slightly wrong. The
English subaltern on the Frontier, whose education cost two thousand pounds
(not five) was laid low by a ten rupee jezail (not five). But of course the
point stands.
Kipling went on, perhaps more appositely: 'With home-bred hordes the
hillsides teem, The troopships bring us one by one, At vast expense of time
and steam.The "captives of our bow and spear" are cheap, alas! as we are
dear'.
Kipling also wrote that 'an Afghan attacked is much less formidable than an
Afghan attacking...'. But that is another story.
Yours faithfully, John Radcliffe (106 Richmond Avenue, Islington, London N1
0LS )
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