370 IN THE VISION OF GOD
a special motor-car for the journey to Rawalpindi, but
Ramdas' attraction for the cave on the hill did not permit
him to accompany him. God willed that he should live in
the cave for some days. He disclosed this fact to Gopalrao,
who was greatly disappointed at the news, hut had to
submit to the inevitable. Hifl deop concern for Ramdas
induced him to leave word with Bluii Vir Singh, the Sikh
saint, to have a watchful interest in Ramdas. He left
Srinagar with his wife and the same evening Ramdas
occupied the cave.
The interior of the cave was spacious although the
entrance was narrow. Since the cave had been frequented
by goats that grazed on the hill, the place inside was
extremely dirty with their droppings and urine. There was
a small Chenar tree at the mouth of the cavo and a flat slab
of stone at its base,
Ramdas then possessed only one thin ochre-coloured,
plain Kashmir shawl presented by Gopalrao, and nothing
else. The floor in the cave was of two levels. As you enter
you come to the lower ground, at the end of which is a
raised platform reaching the back hollow wall of the cave.
The ground and the pedestal were rugged and sharp bits of
gravel lay thickly scattered on them. Even during the day
semi-darkness prevailed in the cave. As the sun was about
toset, Bhai Vir Singh came hastening up the hill to where
Ramdas was and said:
"I have heard that you are going to stay in this cave.
You may command me to supply you with whatever you
want."
"Ramdas wants nothing," was Ramdas1 reply.
"No, that will not do; I will arrange to provide you
• with food, blankets and rugs," he exclaimed.
"Ramdas wants to remain here for some days without
food and comforts. So please don't trouble yourself,"
Ramdaeputin.
"I cannot agree with you there. You must permit me