NILKANT HILL 303
bangles on his wrists, rings on his fingers and a joli sus-
pended on his shoulder, containing a number of things. He
presented Ramdas "with a big lump of charas or extract of
ganja for smoking. Ramdas accepted the gift. The sadhn
was a ganja smoker himself. After some time he left the
cave. On his departure Ramdas threw the lump of charas
into the fire and burnt it to ashes. Next day the sadhn
turned up again. He was short of charas. He expected
Ramdas to provide him with some from the lump given
by him the previous evening.
"May I have some charas ?" he asked.
"Ramdas destroyed in the fire the lump of charas you
presented him with," replied Ramdas.
"Well done, maharaj," he said with a sigh of relief.
"I have become a slave to this vice and by your contact I
hope to be freed from it." Thereafter, taking a great liking
for Ramdas, he became a constant visitor.
Now the usual provisions for cooking dal and roti were
nearly exhausted, although the gifts of other eatables were
raining down every day. Ramcharandas was for the daily
dal and roti.
"Swamiji," he said one night, "the provisions have run
out. I intend going down to Marwadi kshetra in Swarga-
shram and bringing provisions to last us for at least a
fortnight. We require also earthen pots for fetching and
storing water. I shall also obtain these,"
"Ram," Ramdas observed, "why all this trouble? God
provides us here. Let us be satisfied with the things He
sends us."
"No, Swamiji, a meal of dal and roti, once a day, is
essential. It is no trouble to me. I can manage to get the
articles without difficulty. I have resolved upon it. I will
start tomorrow morning and try to return by the evening,"
he said.
He was obstinate and Ramdas submitted. Early
next morning, he climbed down the hill and made his way