Preheat oven to 350-degrees.

Cream the butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time.

Chop the dates and nuts and mix with a light dusting of flour to keep the dates from sticking together.

Sift the flour and spices and salt into the egg-butter-sugar mixture.

Mix the baking soda with a teaspoon of warm water and add to mixture.

Add the (optional) dark rum.

Grease a cookie sheet once.

Drop by the teaspoon onto cookie sheet.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, until lightly browned.

Remove from oven and allow to cool on a baking rack before serving.