THE GOD-MAN The Life, Journeys and Work of Meher Baba with an ...

THE PERIOD OF WORLD TRAVEL 115wardrobe trunks are very large, and not practicable for travelling, we had been advised to buythem; a trunk for furs we left to be sent direct to America.Baba was staying about twenty-five miles outside Bombay at Kandevely, with a group oftwelve Indian women disciples. I think the men were staying elsewhere.At 2 p.m. the car arrived at the hotel to take us to him. Imagine our excitement! We put on oursummer clothes and our best-the only occasion on which we ever wore our best clothes: nearlyall we had was unsuitable as it turned out.It was a pleasant drive, seeing the gardens and looking down from over Bombay harbour.The rest of the journey was a little dull and uninteresting, on the flat all the time. At last wearrived. We were shown into a large salon upstairs leading on to a balcony, two rooms leadingout from left to right. We made for the right and found the girls with many saris lying around onbeds and on the floor, and Dolly lying rather ill on the bed, but no Baba. In the other room Babawas awaiting us. I got there first, slipping as usual on the floor-and falling, for Baba to save mein time.The women were delighted and charming, and made us all feel at home and happy. First wetook off our European clothes and dressed in gorgeous saris, each choosing what she felt suitedher best. We sat together in the centre of the room. After an hour we had to change again into ourown things as downstairs there had already been assembled, for two hours or more, a large groupof people coming to pay their respects to Baba - people of all ages, men, women, children, eachwith a garland of flowers.At the appointed hour Baba came downstairs with us all, except Mehera and the sick lady.He sat on a sofa dressed in his white robe-and the rest of us about the room, some on chairs,some on the floor. It was a wonderful scene: men, women, and children. To some Baba gaveadvice and help, to others just his blessing. Most, I believe, came for help rather than just out oflove. I suppose about a hundred. When the last had gone, Baba retired upstairs.Towards eight 0' clock the men motored us back to Bombay, and we were glad to get to bed.The next afternoon we spent a short time with Baba. We had that morning got our Chinese visasand brought them to Baba to see. I don't remember very clearly about this afternoon. Norina triedto comfort the Indian women, who were already feeling sad at Baba's leaving them. Some of usseemed very tired and slept. There were many private interviews and much business discussed,and