On the 23rd at Port Said, Chanji observed Baba weep as he listened to one of Robeson's songs, Hear the Lambs A-cryin' — perhaps thinking of the lovers he had left behind and their grief at his departure.
On the ship, Baba sent messages to his lovers in England and America.
To Malcolm and Jean, he wrote: "I will come back to America to pour out my love to you and to spiritualize America."
On board, a Muslim physician recognized Baba as a great spiritual personality, although the Master was still traveling incognito as M. S. Irani . The man watched Baba from time to time, and one day while Baba was on deck, he approached him and listened to a brief discourse conveyed to Chanji. The man could not refrain from sharing this opportunity with others on board and requested that Baba address a group of passengers.
In spite of repeated explanations that Meher Baba did not wish to appear before the public, the man kept on insisting that the Master should address, if not all of the passengers, then at least a small gathering. The doctor was, in fact, so persistent that he was satisfied only after Baba agreed to his request. He accordingly arranged a program, but to the surprise of Chanji, the meeting, which was to be strictly private for about six or seven people, turned out to be for 100 persons who had gathered in the hall where it had been scheduled. Baba had not addressed a public gathering in the West and did not want to do so here. But seeing that so many were anxious to hear him and considering the doctor's enthusiasm, Baba agreed to "speak" before those gathered.
Within a short time, the number of people increased to 300 as others heard that an Indian guru was to give a lecture on the spiritual path. Many were standing outside on the deck trying to listen. Baba had agreed to speak for only fifteen minutes and accordingly began dictating on the board
with Chanji interpreting. The discourse stretched to a full hour as several people asked questions. Afterward, Baba was asked to address the first-class passengers who had not attended. To their disappointment, he declined.
Christmas and New Year's Eve were celebrated on the ship with much joy as was customary for the European passengers. Baba was asked to give a message to the world via radio, but he now strictly adhered to his wish to travel without publicity and so refused.