Western Historical Manuscript Collection: The working title for this story was “Genie.”
This story deals with an imaginary country named Jondore. One of the main characters, the Ranee, is the widow of the Nizam who is the country's ruler.
Hyderabad in central India was home to a dynasty ruled by the Nizam. From 1724 to 1948, seven generations of the Asif Jahi dynasty ruled over this province. Hyderabad is also famous for its pearl industry even though it is far from the seashore. Rather it is the skill of its artisans in working with the precious ornaments that forms the base for Hyderabad's reputation.
Similarities between The Mystic Mullah and The Majii. It appears that The Mystic Mullah was the literary parent of The Majii.
1. In both stories the villain is the hereditary leader of a small remote Asiatic city-state.
2. Both the Mystic Mullah and the Majii are mythical ancient beings.
3. Joan Lyndell and the Nizam are reputed to be the wealtiest person in the world.
4. A gas is used in both stories. The streamers of vapor in the Temple Nava are suggestive of the green slaves of the Mystic Mullah.
5. The gang flees New York in stolen aircraft in order to bring the battle to their home territory.
6. Joan Lyndell is hypnotized into becoming a human spider. Rama Tura uses hypnotism to greater effect in his story. Also Monk makes a comment about the Ranee possibly sticking the Nizam with a poisoned needle.
7. Oscar Gibson is an agent of the OGPU. Rama Tura pretends to be a British secret agent
8. The goal is to establish a vast new empire.
9. In both stories the gas gets the villain in the end.
Dent’s description of the Majii’s tomb is very similar to the Kaaba in Mecca. But the location seems to have more in common with Zoroastrianism than Islam. The big urn with the flame resembles a fire temple. In conjunction with that thought, the location of the tomb on a high hill is more akin to the Tower of Silence used by the Zoroastrians to bury their dead.
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Just who is the doctor? We never really learn exactly but the question arises as to whether he is the individual referred to in The Spook Hole. Is this the man the criminal went to for treatment of his physical injuries? Is this doctor privy to the Crime College? Alas we can on speculate to that answer.
One more interesting fact surfaces regarding Doc's unusual treatment center. We are told that it has been in operation a "long time". The Majii is only the thirty-first adventure. Less than three years has passed since the first story. That short amount of time hardly accounts for the operational period alluded to in the story.
September 2, 1935 – Hurricane Islamorada hits the Florida Keys causing great damage and loss of life.
September 3, 1935 - Sir Malcolm Campbell sets a new land speed record of 301 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
September 5, 1935 - Gene Autry, who became America’s favorite singing cowboy, stars in Tumbling Tumbleweeds.
September 6, 1935 – President Roosevelt allocates $5,000,000 for the Cross Florida Barge Canal.
September 8, 1935
- US Senator Huey P. Long
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September 13, 1935 - Howard Hughes sets a new world speed record of 352 mph.
September 15, 1935 – Nazi German enacts the antisemitic Nuremburg Laws.
September 17, 1935 – First flight of the Junkers Ju 87 “Stuka.”
September 30, 1935 – President Roosevelt formally dedicates Hoover Dam.
