The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 9/Letters - Fifth Series/CCXV Joe—

To Miss Josephine MacLeod

7th Feb. 1902.

MY DEAR JOE —

We have safely reached Benaras, and Mr. Okakura [Kakuzo] has already done Benaras. He goes to see Sarnath (the old Buddhistic place) today and starts on his tour tomorrow.

He has asked Niranjan [Swami Niranjanananda] to accompany him and he has consented.

Kanay [Nirbhayananda] has supplied him with everything he asked for — and he asks me also to send you the accounts. This, on the other page.

I hope Nivedita and Mrs. [Ole] Bull have safely arrived. I am rather better than at Buddha Gaya. This house is nice — well furnished and has a good many rooms and parlours. There is a big garden all round and beautiful roses — and gigantic trees. It is rather cooler here than at Gaya. There was no hitch to our friends being admitted into the chief temple and [allowed to] touch the Sign of Shiva and to worship. The Buddhists, it seems, are always admitted.

With all love and welcome to Mrs. Bull and Nivedita — if they have arrived — and all to you,

VIVEKANANDA

[Enclosed in the above letter was the following accounts list.]

4TH FEBRUARY 1902. Rs 100

Rs. As. P.[6]*

Train   hire   from   Gaya   to   Benares                          20 4             0 Cab hire 5             0              0 Tel message 2             0              0 Refreshment       Room      (Morning)                                1 8             0 Cooly hire Gaya 0             10            0 Tobacco etc. 0              5              0 Refreshment     Room      (Evening)                                 2 0             3 Cooly   hire   (at   Benares)                                        1 1             0 Cab hire at Benares 1             10            0

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Total                                      34            6              3

Paid   to    Medicine    for    Mr.   K.   Okakura                  1 8             0 "    [Ditto]   Oatmeal   &   corn   —   flour                        1 4              0 "              Tobacco etc. 0              6              3 "             Bread etc. 0              2              0 Paid to Barber 0              3              0 "              Fish 0             7              6

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Total                                      3              14            9

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Pickles 1             0              0 Sweetmeats 0             9              0 Carriage hire 1             8              0 Priests   of   Vishvanath   etc.                                    10 4             0

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Total                                      13            5              0

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Things purchased for store at Gopal   Lal    Villa    before   Swamiji's   arrival               17 11           9

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Total                                      69            5              9

Paid to Expenses from Calcutta to Buddh— Gaya 30           10            3

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Rs. 100         0              0

(“P.” stands for pie-s, twelve of them making one Anna (As.) and sixteen annas making one rupee (Rs.).)