Why did Baba send Madhavrao to get a message about London from Shama, instead of just telling him directly?

There seems to be a misunderstanding, as the events described in Chapter 18 do not involve any message about London. The text recounts an incident where Baba sent a gentleman to Madhavrao (Shama) with a very different message. Baba instructed this person to go to Shama and 'Take fifteen rupees as Dakshina from Shama.' This was a test and a form of divine play, which surprised Madhavrao. The story illustrates how Baba interacted with His devotees through unexpected means, not a communication about a foreign city. The entire interaction was a local event within Shirdi as detailed in Chapter 18.