bitterness ― how could He? Nilu is rather sensitive at Baba's teasings, much more so then myself, and seems to take them all to heart. I myself feel that Baba does it for His own reasons, and not by any means because of the matter in hand at the moment. All the cars are getting prepared for the tour, greased, oiled and what not. Jal Rusi* has gone off to Quetta at Baba's order; the place will be like a morgue when we have left. I definitely feel that the dust up yesterday has brought me a lot closer to Him; although it is not funny to be "ticked off" by Him and made to look as an ass, inwardly it gives a sort of pleasure because, I suppose, it is done in Love; great compliment really and "whom the lord loveth he chasteneth".

(By such "abuse" the Masters, through their "inner working" remove deep-seated sanskaras -- Ed.)

One of the girls in the other house had a fit, seemed to be epileptic, and so with Sidhi's young son, that is two epileptics to dose.

29/3/40    Am very busy now before going off on Monday, Baba making me rush here and there on different errands all day long these days; but although I get tired I really like all that rushing about on Baba's work, however trivial it may be. Last night I went to Col. Hance's house for drinks and chat, and met the Trevelyans and others: general polite chat in the garden, quite pleasant. Hance is a decent old stick. Nilu comes back to this house today, and we pack up the dispensary together.

5/4/40    We left Bangalore at 7 a.m. on 1/4/40, Baba in Elizabeth's car, with the "invisibles" going first, then Jalbhai in the Austin driving the Western women, then Tukeram driving the Opel with the Jessawala ladies and Merwan, then the bus with the big gang of women, 16 of them, Kaka and Nilu with myself driving the bus.

At about 10 p.m. we reach Shimoga on 2/4/40 and were welcomed by the two head men of the village in grand style when we arrived - with flags, flowers, coconut water, lemons -- everything! Also lots of strangers to see Baba too; rather tedious because of them. In the evening I went with Baba and a few others to see a prospective gold mine owned by the natives; Baba kept picking up leaves and throwing them away there, and told them where to start digging for gold; whatever the experts might say, I hope they do find gold. That evening singing by a Moslem singer: very pleasant, in Baba's tent in the garden; only Baba, we seven men and the singer and instrumentalists. The next day (3/4/40) we were to leave early, but at suggestion of the villagers we left at 3:00 p.m.; lots of "darshanites", whom Baba saw, but didn't want to. Very hot drive at first, then series of mishaps to the five cars, the village men's as well; but stuck in one place, trying to avoid a low arch at village entrance made of bamboo poles. Broke back step and later bus lights fused and we went five or ten miles by torch light only, through the jungle. Austin and Opel both had punctures; Elizabeth's car, the horn got stuck in; the village men's car had fan belt broken. Baba said it was because His original plan had altered. Road through deep jungle; Jal's car and those in Opel saw tiger; great high trees meeting over the road, real storybook jungle, scented, quiet and yet full of the sound of beast and bird - very impressive; Baba called it the real India.

We reached Jog Falls at 12 midnight, first went to British rest house because ferry was closed, and then they let us cross over to Mysore rest house when they saw our lights across the river. Ferry by night very beautiful, bus just got on the ferry which was made of long boats, four or six, scooped from solid teak, only boards on top; punted by men with paddles and long poles. Jog Falls were lighted for us by bundles of burning

*In the original Awakener it says Jal Rumi. In Lord Meher, Donkin's diary entry says Jal Rusi. Rumi must be a typo, so I changed it. webmaster-Jk