15C IN THE VISION OF GOD
"You mistake me," remonstrated the barber, "I am not
prepared to bring down on my head the curses of your wife
and children by helping yon to adopt sannyas."
" Brother, why do you mind all that ? Do as I ask you,"
the bania pressed coaxingly. "I will give yon my shirt
and a watch, in addition to the usual sharing charges.1'
The barber was firm. His fear of the curses outweighed
all other considerations. He refused to yield to the
temptation. He got up and was about to leare the spot
when the bania clutched him by the arm and begged:
"Shave all the hair on my head and face except the
eyebrows and a small tuft on the head. What do you say ?
You can have no objection now."
At this the barbex lowered his leather bag of sharing
materials and sat down. He agreed to the compromise. In
fifteen minutes the bania's face and head, except the tuft
in the middle of the latter, were cleared of all hair. He
.gave away to the barber the shirt aud the watch and also
some money. Now he turned to Ramdas anticipating a
look of approbation from him. Ramdas could only be a
cheerful spectator of the performance.
He had now left with him a greasy old cap, which he
threw away, two dhoties and a small bag containing some
money. On his finger was also a gold ring. One of the
dhoties he presented to a beggar. All that he now possessed
consisted of one dhoti, a gold ring, some money and a
lota.
Bath over, he escorted Ramdas to a neighbouring
sweetmeat shop where they had a tiffin of purees and milk.
Then they sauntered along the bank of the rirer and came
to a place called Phatakshila, where they saw nearly a
dozen sadhus living in a hut close by the rirer. Resting for
.some time beneath a tree they retraced their steps to the
town again by noon. The bania felt hungry. A recourse
again to the sweetmeat shop satisfied the ravenous wolf
•within.