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Mr. C. R. JAIN'S ACTIVITIES IN AMERICA 25
The menus that I write out for our use are modified European foods which these people understand.
Yesterday I made the acquaintance of a Muhammadan gentleman (Mr. Anvar) from Iraq who has, through scientific education, shaken himself free from superstition. Through him I came to know a Christian Missionary of Bulgarian nationality whose name is Mr. Nicolaff. I had some very interesting discussion with this Bulgarian gentleman; and in the end I lent him my “Jainism Christianity and Science" which he is now reading. Mr. Anvar has also been induced by me to read “The Gems of Islam” which I lent him this morning.
I have been feeling a bit giddy since yesterday morning. Yesterday I tried to amuse myself in the morning by working out a chess-problem which is said to be unworkable in the Indian game. It is the problem of the king who was to lose one of his 4 wives if he lost the game. It so happened that the game actually looked as if it was lost for the king. Finding no way out of the difficulty he went into the Queens' Quarters of the Palace to see which of the 4 lovely wives he would like to part from. There, one of these queens actually showed him how to turn defeat into victory. He followed her advice and won the game. The solution is contained in the famous Persian couplet :
شاها دورخ بده و دلارام را مداپیل وپیاده پیس کن از اسپ کشت و مات
[शाह दो रूख विदेह व दिलाराम रा मदेह ।
पीलो प्यादा पेश कुन अज़ अस्प किश्त व मात] What the actual problem was I have never seen described; but I have always heard it said
