East Africa
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In 1919 after about 8 days of travel by steamship, Pappa landed in Mombasa. His first job was with Alibhai Rehemtulla for very little pay. |
Jikaka was in Kitui or Machakos working as a salesman, so he could not offer Pappa accommodation, but a kandoi from Amran, Dayalji Kandoi, suggested that Pappa sleep on his benches, which Pappa did (on a gunny sack). It was a rough start in a new country.
After some investigation
Pappa got a job working at the Standard Bank thanks to his good written
and spoken English. Here he used to earn 100sh a month of which he gave
10sh to charity, kept 20-25sh for himself and sent the rest to Adda in
Rajkot. After 5 p.m. he was free so he worked for Kadarbhai filling customs
declarations. Kadarbhai had a timber importing business. Scandinavian
pine was used for building and Burmese teak for furniture. He observed
and learnt from Kadarbhai’s business.
