WILLIAM'S CARE AND FORETHOUGHT

 
William (Donkin) and I drove to Ahmednagar every day to collect more ice from an ice factory near Kedgaon. I was incredulous when William told me that he had paid extra for large blocks of ice to be specially manufactured from boiled water — something unheard of. "Why boil the water when the half-melted blocks are being discarded?" I asked. William explained that devotees would collect the melting ice and drink it as prasad. I found this to be true. People would chip the ice and place the pieces in any container they could find.* Once again I was impressed by William's care and forethought.

Another daily errand was to check the progress of Baba's coffin, a job William had entrusted to a local carpenter, whose workshop was near Burud Galli. The carpenter prepared a coffin, but William rejected the workmanship. "This is not for an ordinary person!" he emphasized to the man. The next day the carpenter had another sample ready, but it too was rejected. The man said he could rectify the faults William pointed out, but William insisted he start over, with fresh, seasoned teakwood on all sides.

A third model was finally approved. The coffin was polished on the outside as well as on the inside, according to William's instructions.

At about 1:00 A.M. on 7 February 1969, William made his final inspection. He told me, "You will be lucky to be the first to touch Baba's coffin."

"Why do you say that? This is such a sad occasion."

"No, you don't realize. In the future, people will feel you were blessed."

"You should be the first one, since you took so much care."

"No, I want you to be the first to touch it."

I hesitated, but William took my hand and had me go over every surface, inside and out, to make sure that the wood was absolutely smooth. He did so himself, as well. Then William pushed the top cover with all his weight to make sure it was strong enough, but he didn't want to stand on it, as it was for Baba.

William instructed the carpenter to apply another coat of polish on both the outside and inside, and told him we would return early that morning to pick it up. We drove back to Meherabad, and after a few hours, drove again to the carpenter's. He, his two helpers, and William tied the coffin to the top of William's Woolsley (in which Baba had ridden to Poona). We brought it at about 9 A.M. on the 7th.** William parked in front of the main gate at Upper Meherabad, took the coffin off the top, and he and I carried it to the tin shed, where many rushed forward to help so it wouldn't touch the ground.