By Thursday, 26 September 1929, the ship reached the Persian port of Mohammerah (Khorramshahr), and all were requested to be inoculated against cholera. Chanji tried to have Baba exempted from this, as he had already had a vaccination in Bombay before leaving, but he failed and Baba was forced to take the injection.
When they disembarked and were going through customs, the customs officer seized all the books, lockets, photographs, and phonograph records they were carrying. He claimed they were anti-Islamic.
Baba observed, "They won't return these things to us. They will create difficulties and will interfere in my work in seclusion."
Pointing to Buasaheb, he remarked, "Because of your slight disobedience, the whole plan is upset and out of kilter. What a calamity, and it is due to the negligence of one man! What was the necessity of bringing these books with us? What a misfortune you have caused; you should know by now that a conversation had with good intentions at times gives rise to chaos."
Meanwhile, a meeting with higher officials failed to clear the luggage (but it seems the photos and lockets were returned to them). The books were shipped to Tehran for clearance and all in the group felt harassed.
Baba remarked, "Even in the midst of this confusion, I am quite happy, because I remember roaming throughout this place in a past incarnation."1
With the help of a wandering dervish, they found a suitable house for their stay in Mohammerah after two days of looking. Jalbhai humorously remarked, "Where are all the Persian grapes and pomegranates we've heard so much about? The grapes are said to be as big as Raosaheb's head!"
Since arriving, everyone had been thinking of Raosaheb, who had failed to arrive in Mohammerah with Chhota Baba and Ali Akbar as planned. (Aga Ali had been dropped off at his relatives' house in Yezd.) Baba had telegrams dispatched to various people in Persia trying to locate them. Due to an accident to the bus they were traveling on, Raosaheb and the boys had not been able to arrive on schedule. While the telegrams were being sent around Persia, Raosaheb and the boys were only a few miles from Mohammerah where they were stranded for three days. On the third day (the 28 th ), when the conversation was again focused on their whereabouts, there was a knock at the door. When it was opened, Raosaheb was standing outside with the two boys. Baba's smile welcomed them with joy.
That night after dinner, Baba went for a walk with the men and sat for a while at a small café where they listened to Arabic gramophone records. When they returned, Baba talked with Raosaheb until late at night.
Parts of Persia are extremely cold in September.
Footnotes
- 1.Baba was referring to his previous advent as Zoroaster, who was born and carried out his Universal work in Persia over 6,000 years ago.