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" authorities, explained to them the advantages of the measures advised to be adopted,
" dwelt at length on the regrettable, apathy evinced by their community and the
" bad name they were acquiring in consequence, not only for themselves, but for
" the Mussalmans in general, desired them to rise to a sense of duty, and pointed
" out that as the senior Jamayet they should lead the way towards the right path and
" should not be influenced by the conduct of others. Then I suggested to them
" that I intended to work through the leaders of the communities, and to leave to
" them as much as possibly could be done, pointing out that that had been my procedure
" in two previous epidemics in Karachi. I further explained that in pursuance of the
" wishes of the authorities I desired to show the utmost respect to the requirements
" of the purdah system and to their social and religious rights, and asked them to
" place confidence in me and to support me sincerely in the work in the success of
" which lay a good name for themselves and for the Mussalmans in general.
" The result of this meeting was encouraging. Warm assurances of their
" support were given by the leaders, and I have reason to be thankful to them tor
" all that they were able to do from time to time among a community not at all easy
"to deal with. House-to-house visitations were recommenced by the Volunteers.
" The general tone of the Jamayet showed signs of improvement, and the leaders
"became distinctly regardful. The Chairman visited me daily at my office, and
" continued to do so even through the fasting month of Bamzan. He invariably
" accompanied me or Dr. Lewis, the Sectional Medical Officer, or the lady nurses
" for any inquiries or inspections which had to be made in his section ; even the
" disinfecting Inspector, whenever in need of assistance, went direct to him and
" obtained the required help.
" Noticing a certain degree of slackness in the month of Harch in reporting
" plague sickness, I spoke to the Chairman and sent word to two other gentlemen
" of influence, upon which they got together the leaders of the Jamayet, who worked
(i with zeal, and in two or three days discovered 8 plague cases and got them removed.
" Very useful assistance w rendered in evacuation of infected rooms or houses or
" whole floors. This was carried out entirely by the leaders themselves, who also
" assisted the evicted people in securing vacant houses fit for their temporary
" occupation. I consider this to be a very satisfactory feature inasmuch as in
" the two previous epidemics evacuation of whole houses or removal from whole floors
" was not known among the Memons.
" The removal of the sick or contacts as a general rule was left to the leaders
" of the community, whether the case was discovered through information from
" any of the Volunteers or otherwise. In short, every thing which was done in the
" plague administration was done through the leaders of the community (most of
" whom were Volunteers), and on the whole I found them desirous to show that they
" were willing to exercise their influence so far as they could.
'' The polite and cautious manner with which the arrangements were
" conducted by him brought so much popularity on the Chairman, Haji Abool Rahi-
" man, the principal worker in this important section, that his Community appointed
" him, in the month of March last, Joint Trustee of the Jamayet Funds, which is a
" coveted position.
" It may be remarked here that the foremost thing to be done with people
" whose susceptibilities are keen is to please their semi-religious or social sentiments
" to which they attach much value, and once their confidence is gained by little
" favours in this direction, popularity follows and co-operation in important matters is
" soon secured.