Preheat oven to 350º F. If dates are not already chopped, chop them coarsely. There should be about 2 1/2 cups. Put dates in a mixing bowl. Blend baking soda and boiling water. Pour this hot mixture over the dates.

Sift together flour and spices and set aside. Put butter and sugar in bowl of electric mixer and blend. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Start beating on low speed while alternately adding flour mixture and the dates with their liquid. Add walnuts and blend well. Butter a 9 x 5 x 2 3/4- or 3-inch loaf pan. Pour in batter and place in oven. Bake about 1 hour 10 minutes.