'my notes on my first session with don juan are dated 23rd june 1961. that was the occasion when the teachings began...'

'this book is both ethnography and allegory' - walter goldschmidt, foreword to the teachings of don juan: a yaqui way of knowledge by carlos castaneda. 

'during these early conversations I took notes in a covert manner. later, relying on my memory, I reconstructed the entire conversation. when I began to participate as an apprentice, however, that method of taking notes became very difficult... don juan allowed me - under strong protest, however - to record openly anything that was said. I would have liked to take photographs and make tape recordings, but he would not permit me to do so.' - carlos castaneda, introduction to teachings..., op cit. 

'... castaneda's work was accepted as factual by many when the books were first published, the training he described is now generally considered to be fictional.' - carlos castaneda wikipedia entry. 

horsemouth has started re-reading the teachings of don juan and is finding it vastly enjoyable. he would have first read it when he was 14 or so. he took it to be factual. he has since read richard de mille's writing on castaneda (which contends that it is fiction). 

how does it start? with an undated ('summer of 1960') and unlocated ('in a border town') first meeting with don juan, then a discussion of the term diablero, then a shaggy dog story (undated) - ok well, in fact, a giant coyote story (that might be a  diablero - a witch or wizard in animal form). 

the book is a joy to read and 'carlos' (the central character who is supposed to be the author) is an engagingly stupid apprentice. later, when he reads de mille, horsemouth will become impressed by what a fluid and efficient liar castaneda is, how well he writes, how beautiful is his collaging of academic texts, and how comedic his parodying of academic style is. 

of course fahey has been here before. in his thesis on charlie patton. 

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did horsemouth have a day without spending money?

he did not. he thought that might be a good idea and then realised he would have to cook some starch because there was no bread in the house. then he realised he would need some margarine for the bread. at the shop he became tempted by a cheese and onion pasty. by now we are up at £4.49. 

hopefully he will manage to avoid further expenditure.

it is the birthday of franz kafka today.  the kafkaesque will come later. it is one of the keywords of the 20ieth century (together with catch 22).  

horsemouth is reminded he should add rashied ali (born july 1st) to his jazz musicians who adopted islam list. 

horsemouth is hanging around to vote. last night he cooked something vaguely curryish - tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, onions, peas, rice. he still has plenty of rice left over (that will be today's meal).