III
When on the 25th February I got three months' hard labour, and once again embraced my brother Indians and my son in the Volksrust Jail, I little thought that I should have had to say much in connection with my third "pilgrimage" to the jail, but with many other human assumptions, this too proved to be false. My experience this time was unique, and what I learnt therefrom I could not have learnt after years of study. I consider these three months invaluable. I saw many vivid pictures of passive resistance, and I have become, therefore, a more confirmed resister than what I was three mouths ago. For all this I have to thank the Government of this place (the Transvaal).
Several officers had betted this that I should not get less than six months. My friends—old and renowned Indians—my own son—had got six months and so I too was wishing that they might win their bets. Still I had my own misgivings, and they proved true. I got only three months, that being the maximum under the law.
After going there, I was glad to meet Messrs. Dawood Muhammad, Rustamji, Sorabiji, Pillay, Hajura Sing, Lal Bahadur Sing and other "fighters." Excepting for about ten all others were accommodated in tents, pitched in the jail compound for sleeping, and the scene resembled a camp more than a prison. Every one liked to sleep in the tents.
We were comfortable about our meals. We used to cook ourselves as before, and so could cook as we liked, We were about 77 passive resistors in all.
Those who were taken out for work had rather a hard time of it. The road near the Magistrate's Court
