ABSTRACT
The obituary for James Long in The Academy for 9 April 1887 states that ‘some part of Mr Long’s early life was spent, we believe, in Russia; and he never wearied of pointing out the resemblances between the social system and folklore of Russia and of India.’ 1 While the reference to Long’s interest in comparative literature and sociology highlights an important aspect of his scholarly work, the first statement suggesting that he spent his early life in Russia is entirely false, as are similar claims in subsequent biographical material. 2 His first visit to Russia was not as a child, but, significantly, after the Nil Darpan affair, in 1863. He states this clearly and categorically in an article he wrote for the Proceedings of the Evangelical Alliance in New York in October 1872. In his paper entitled ‘The present position of Russia in Central Asia, in relation to the spread of Christianity and Civilization in the East’ he pointed out that he had laboured in India as a missionary for twenty-eight years and had visited Russia ‘twice-in 1863 for five months, and lately for 15 months.’ 3
