47
the towns and talukas. Thence I worked my way through the Naoshero, Rátáde-
rá, Larkháná, Kambar, Nasirábád, Mehar and Kakkar talukas into t he Karachi
collectorate ; visiting the Larkháná and Mehar dispensaries cn roule. Continuing
my march down the right bank of the Indus, I inspected the work of the Dadu,
Sihwán, Mánjhándá and Kotri vaccinators and visited the Sihwán dispensary. In
the latter part of January, I went across the Haidrabad collectorate to the Thar
and Párkar, examining by the way the work of the Haidrabad municipal and
taluka vaccinators, of the Alayar and Sháhdádpur vaccinators, then taking the
course of the Nárá and Puran rivers to the Ran of Kutch, I inspected the work
done in the Sánghar, Kiprá, Umarkot and Dipla talukas and visited the Kipra
and Umarkot dispensaries. From Rahimki bazár I entered the southern portion
of the Haidrábád collectorate, traversed the Badin, Baga-Ka-Tánda, and the Guni
talukas, and at the end of March was in the Shah bandar district, in the neighbour-
hood of which, owing to the prevalence of small-pox, I intend remaining for
some time, in order to ensure work being done as well and rapidly as possible. From
Statement No. VII., I find that I travelled 2,822 miles, visited 532 villages and
inspected 20,925 vaccinated children. From the vaccinators' registers I called 6,595
names ; of these there are only 20 names unaccounted for, and I cannot say that,
even one of these is a false entry : they are the names of children whom the patil
cannot identify as belonging to his village. Ten of them were entered as belonging
to the village of Jungo Jalbani in the Shahbandar taluka, and as the man who
had returned them was not present to explain matters (he having been
transferred to another part of (he zilha in consequence of a resident of Shahbandar
having been recently appointed to this taluka), I had no alternative but to put,
them down as unaccounted for. They were probably the children of people who had
temporarily taken up their abode near the village of Jungo Jalbani.
Correctness of vaccinators'
returns.
15. If we except the vaccinator of H. H. Mír Alimurad in the Khairpur ter-
ritory, who has "turned over a new leaf," I have
found but one instance of falsification, and that on a
very small scale. The case is that of Ramchand, vac-
cinator in the Mirpur Batora taluka, who having been idle during the inundation,
season, in order to make his returns appear better, dared to enter the names of some
half dozen children in the return for October that had been already given in the
return for September. Ráamchand has just been dismissed in consequence. Every
vaccinator is aware that for the least falsification he is liable to be dismissed, hence
we have very few instances of such cases.
Conduct of vaccinators and
assistant superintendents.
16. Speaking generally, the vaccinators have behaved exceedingly well and
have worked very hard: but, there are two or three who
reflect no great credit on the Department. The assistant
superintendents have worked exceedingly well, as is
evinced by the amount of work done in their districts. Mr. Hásámal and Mr. Lál
Baksh are especially deserving of praise. There was no small-pox in Mr. Asumal's
district; he had not therefore the same opportunity of distinguishing himself; but
notwithstanding this he has done excellent work. Mr. Lachman failed during the
year owing to sickness, he has not been so successful in coping with small-pox as
Mr. Hásámal or Mr. Lal Baksh.
Aid of civil and political
officers acknowledged.
17. I have much pleasure in recording that I have received every assistance
from all the authorities in carrying on my work.
This has made my duties comparatively agreeable.
I am under great obligation to the Commissioner in
Sindh, Sir W. Merewether, for his invariable kindness in helping and advising
me. I am also much indebted to Colonel Dunsterville, both as Political Agent of
Khairpur and as Collector of Haidrábád. My thanks are due to Mr. Douglas
Crawford for so successfully using his influence with the people of large towns in
his district in favour of vaccination ; to Captain Mayhew who, accompanied me
through the whole of his district in search of small-pox ; and to Mr. Tyndall for
special assistance at the dispensary towns of Tattá and Jarak.