ON THE WAY-NARSOBAWADI
(i) Muslim Friends
Xext day the sadhns started from Supa. After visiting
Castle Rock, via Londa, they came to Belgaum by train.
From Belgauin they travelled on foot. They reached the
toTvn named Shahapnr, Here the still of Ramcharandas in
cookery failed him. He served Ramdas \vith half-boiled
vegetables ^rith which he had a stiff fight before they could
be driven down the throat. After a night's halt they pro-
ceeded onwards. While passing through this fertile country
they cane npon sugar-cane fields. The farmers were so kind
as to invite these itinerants and offer them the cool drints
of sugar-cane juice and jaggery.
As they journeyed forward they had to traverse vast
tracts of hilly land. Here a word has to be said about the
condition of their feet. The incessant travel from day to
day on hard and rocky ground had worn out their soles so
much that there were on them blisters, sores and deep cuts.
Unmindful of this Ramdas was walking as usual at a rapid
pace, but Ramcharandas grumbled and limped behind him.
At noon they reached a town in the heart of an extensive
and elevated plateau. For miles around the place there was
hardly any human habitation.
On entering the town they procured sadavrat or alms
of food-stuffs from the temples of the place. They fixed
upon a small room of a rest-house on the road-side for pre-
paring meals. While Rameharandas was busy cooking
Ramdas, whom he would never allow to help in any way,
sat in the open verandah.. Presently a MuhamTnadan
merchant came and took his seat on the edge of tie
verandah facing Ramdas. The Muslim friend broke into a
lively talk, in the course of which he drew out many parti*