Chapter 35 Chapter VIII On the way to Pretoria

Soon I came into contact with Christian Indians living in Durban.The Interpreter of the Court, Mr. Paul, was a Roman Catholic, whom I knew, and the late Mr. Suban Godfrey, who was then teaching in a school run by the Protestant Church, a South African who visited India in 1924. Father of Mr. James Godfrey, member of the delegation.It was about this time that I also became acquainted with the late Shi Rosdunji and the late Adanji Miyahhan, all friends who had no contact at that time except in business, but who later became very close. contacts.About their situation, we will talk about it later.

While I was thus extending my circle of acquaintances, the firm received a letter from their lawyer, saying that a lawsuit should be prepared, and that Abdullah Sai should go to Pretoria himself, Or send a representative there. Abdullah Sai showed me the letter and asked if I would like to go to Pretoria.I said, "I can only speak when I have cleared up the case from you. Now I don't know what I should do there." He asked some of his clerks to explain the case to me. case. As soon as I began to study the case, I felt that I needed to learn from the beginning on this subject.During the few days I stayed in Zanjiba, I went to the court to see the work there.There was a Bosch lawyer who was examining a witness and asking him about many credits and debits in the ledger, which I didn't understand.I didn't learn bookkeeping either at school or when I was studying abroad in the UK.And the cases that I came to South Africa to deal with were mainly problems related to accounts.Only those who understand accounts can understand and explain the problems in it.The clerk kept on talking about this debit and that credit, and I was getting more and more confused.I don't understand P. What does Noto mean? I couldn't find this word in the dictionary, so I had to ask the staff for advice, and then I knew P. Note was originally a promissory note.I bought a book on bookkeeping and studied it.This gave me some confidence.I finally figured out the case.Abdullah Sai did not know how to keep books, but he had a lot of practical knowledge and could quickly solve the complex problems of bookkeeping.I told them I was ready to go to Pretoria.

"Where are you going to live?" he asked. "You can do whatever you want," I said. "Then I will write to our lawyer, who will arrange for you to live. I can also write a few letters to my Miman friends there, but I advise you not to live with them. Our opponents are in Piletto The Ria have a lot of power. If any of them managed to see our private communications, it would be bad for us. The more you avoid getting acquainted with them, the better for us." "I'll live where your lawyer tells me to live, or I'll find a lodging alone, don't worry. No one will ever know our secrets. But I want to know our rivals, and They made friends. I would also like to try to settle the case out of court, if possible. After all, Tebsay is your relative."

Tebu Hazihan Muhammad Sai was originally a close relative of Abdullah Sai.The mention of the possibility of solving the case somewhat surprised Abdullah Sai, I see.However, I have been in Durban for six or seven days, and now we know each other somewhat.I am no longer a "white elephant".So he said, "Then...well. It would be great to be able to settle out of court. But we are all relatives and we know each other well. Tebu Sai is not someone who will agree to a settlement casually. As long as our side With a little bit of carelessness, he will take advantage of all our loopholes and punish us to the end. So if you want to do anything, please think twice before acting."

"Please don't worry about that," I said. "I don't need to speak to Tebsay, or to anyone else about the case. I only need to suggest to him an understanding, so as not to cause an unnecessary lawsuit." I arrived in Durban only seven or eight days before leaving.They bought me a first-class ticket, usually five shillings extra for a sleeping berth.Abdullah Sai insisted that I take a berth, but out of obstinacy and pride, and to save the five shillings, I declined.Abdullah warned me, "Be careful, it's not like India here. Thank God we can still afford this little money. You need something, please don't be stingy." I thanked him and asked him not to worry.

The train arrived at Maritzburg, the provincial capital of Natal, at around 9:00 p.m.Sleeper berths are given at this station as usual.A flight attendant came and asked if I wanted a sleeper.I said, "No, I have my own bedding." He left.But then a passenger came and looked me over from head to toe.He saw me as a "coloured person" and got upset.He walked away at once, and came back with an officer or two.They said nothing, when another official came and said to me: "Come with me, you must go to the cab." "But I have a first-class ticket," I said. "That doesn't count," retorted the other: "I tell you, you have to go into the van."

"Let me tell you, they allowed me to take this carriage in Durban, and I must sit to my destination." "No," said the officer, "you must leave this compartment, or I shall have the police push you out." "Okay, go and call. I can't go out on my own." Sure enough, the police came.He took my hand and pushed me out.My luggage was also thrown out, and I refused to go to another car, so the train drove away.I went and sat in the waiting room with my bag in my hand, and the rest of the luggage was left where it was, under the care of the railway authorities.

It was winter, and in the highlands of South Africa, winters are very cold.Maritzburg is very high and extremely cold.My coat was in the luggage, but I dared not take it lest I should be insulted again, so I sat there trembling.There was no light in the room.About midnight a passenger came in and seemed to want to speak to me.But I was not in the mood to speak. I started thinking about my responsibilities.Should I fight for my rights, or simply go back to India, or put the insult aside and rush to Pretoria to finish the case and go back to India?It is cowardly to go back to India without fulfilling one's duty.What I'm suffering now is superficial, a serious symptom of racism.If possible, I should try to get rid of the disease, even if it means suffering a little.All I seek is the elimination of racial prejudice.

So I decided to take the next train to Pretoria.The next morning I sent a long-distance telegram to the director of the railway and informed Abdullah Sai, who immediately went to see the director.The director considered the railway authorities to be justified, but informed Abdullah Sai that he had instructed the station master to bring me safely to my destination.Abdullah had telegraphed the Indian merchants in Maritzburg and friends elsewhere to come and meet me at the station and take care of me.The merchants came to see me at the station, told me of the troubles they had encountered, and comforted me by explaining that what had happened to me was not unusual.They also said that Indians going out on first- or second-class trains had to expect trouble from railway officials and white travelers.That day went by listening to them complain.Later the night train arrived, and there was a bed reserved for me on it.At this time I bought a sleeper ticket in Maritzburg that I refused to buy in Durban.

The train took me to Charlestown.