GOA FRONTIER-SU? A. 4d
seeing their clothing dyed in serrua, that the Gua Govern-
ment had issued a circular that no sadhus should be
permitted to enter their territory.
"Why are they so hard with sadhus r'' queried Ram-
charandas.
"Sadhus! fine fellows they are!"4 said the gate-keeper
\vith a spice of sarcasm. ''Recently a rich man's house \vas
robbed by a wandering sadhu in Goa and the police are
still after him. Hence the order for their exclusion. So you
had better retrace your steps as yon came."
"Brother, do yon think/' Bameharandas asked. fc'tliat
we belong to that type of sadhus?v and added: "We assure
you we mean no ill to anybody/'
"Mine is not to judge who is a true and who is a false
sadhu. I am here only to obey orders. Yon cannot pass/"
he replied firmly.
Ramcharandas utilized to the full all Ms powers of
eloquence and persuasion but in vain. For, he \vas looking
forward most eagerly to a visit to the Kuladevi temple of
Goa—the original temple which commanded allegiance
from all Saraswats of Southern and Western India. After
Tepeated appeals, the gate-keeper said:
"I can allow you to go in on one condition and it is that
you should change your clothes, i. e. give up the coloured
ones for plain white, and pass on2 as ordinary travellers
and not as sadhus."
Ramdas was all along watching the scene. 2fo\v
Ramcharanclas turned to him with a questioning look.
"Ram/1 said Ramdas, "it appears to be Grod's will that
we should not step into the Goa territory. As regards
changing the cloth, Bamdas for one, is not for it. He
would prefer to go back rather than do anything against
the will of God dwelling in his heart. Surely, it is His
pleasure that \ve should turn back/'
They left the place and before dark regained the
village from which they had started, and spent the night in