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Reunion into my room. Never have I seen the light of triumph shine so brightly in any man's eye. "Harry, I've got you a drink just as you are about to leave my native land. It's permitted by law, and we are not breaking any regulations. It's sold in all respectable shops." He produced a bottle of Hall's wine! The label said it was good for "improving appetite, overcoming fatigue, irritableness, depression, shortness of breath, dyspepsia, con- stipation, and certain forms of skin trouble." Though I have none of these ailments, especially the last one, it tasted like nectar to me, despite the fact that it is manufactured in Bow, London, E.3. I even forgot how when I worked in Towlers Boiler Shop in Bow in 1919, I used to hold my nostrils when going over Stink Pot Bridge to get there. January 6 and 7. I HAD a haircut today that really makes me look a bit of a criminal. Then I did some shopping. Went into Cook's to cash a traveller's cheque. It was a C.W.S. one. They do not do business with the C.W.S., but kindly told me where I could cash it. Went to the National Bank of India; noticed with some slight trepi- 30 dation that all the guards carried rifles. Hoped it was not because of me. Bank officials very nice. C.W.S. a good name, and I came out with the doings. It went like a house on fire. I never discover how many relatives I have until I go abroad. Had a nice lunch and lay down for forty winks, which turned out to be a dead-beat sleep lasting four hours. Went to a reception. Met many prominent citizens, all of whom (pardon my modesty) thanked me for my speeches about peace and warning of the danger to India of the U.S.-Pakistan military alliance. Back to my hotel. Phone ringing and ringing asking for press in- terviews. Will I be glad to get on the Strathmore? I'll say I will. I have an idea that when I do, I shall wake up at Aden. But we shall see. On January 7 I got on board the Strathmore at 11.30 a.m. The comrades very disappointed that I would not allow any big send-off. But I was firm about this. Comrade Sanyal, who has travelled all over India with me and looked after me with such great care, came with me. Went down to my cabin. Very nice and roomy. We shook hands. Soon I am besieged by Indian pressmen wanting me to give them my impressions of India. I did. Then lay down and fell asleep until I heard the ship's siren. It was 3 p.m., and I found we were moving from the dockside. Remained on deck until Bombay was out of sight. Went to sleep again. Woke up in time for dinner. Then paced the deck for a while before realising prohibition was over. In bed by 9 p.m., and let there be no mistake, I slept the sleep of the just—sans mosquitoes, lizards and flying beetles. So another chapter in my life has ended. I can only hope I did some good while in India. 31
