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beginning of the current year that His Highness the Nawáb, influenced by Mr. Larcom, the
Assistant Political Agent, at length looked favorably on the proposal and consented to give
an allowance to carry it out. With a view to giving effect to this consent of the Nawáb's, I
visited Janjírá at the suggestion of the Superintendent General of Vaccination in the month
of February last, and there met Mr. Larcom, in conjunction with whom I appointed a
vaccinator to carry on work in the territory for one year, at a remuneration of Rupees 20
per mensem. During this period one or two of the subjects of His Highness are to be taught
how to perform the operation, so that when the term for which he has agreed to employ
a vaccinator from British territory ends, he may have amongst his own people some who
will understand vaccination and be able to practise it. Hitherto the practice of inoculation
has been very much sought after in Janjírá territory ; and there were one or two families
who made a regular profession of its practice to whom it has the only ostensible means of
livelihood. It was proposed at first that one of these people should be instructed in vac-
cination ; but the man that presented himself to me was so very illiterate and was altogether
so poor a subject that I had no hesitation in pronouncing him unfit for such a purpose. In
dismissing him I endeavoured to impress on him a sense of the serious danger his insidious
practice of inoculation was to the people, and how far it went to foster and keep alive
amongst them the loathesome disease of small-pox. I did not think, however, that my
speech would have much effect, and so addressed a letter to the Political Agent, in which I
called attention to the danger this man's practice was to the people, and at the same time
requested that His Highness the Nawáb might be solicited to put some restraint on him, and
thus avert in some measure the evils likely to occur to his subjects from his practice. Dur-
ing my visit to Janjírá I communicated personally with Mr. Larcom on this subject, but he
seemed to think it would be injudicious just then to press the matter on His Highness'
attention after the concession he had already made, and more particularly as these people,
on whom it was proposed to lay the restraint, possessed vested rights in and received certain
remuneration for the practice of inoculation, neither of which His Highness, he thought,
would readily set aside. Subsequently, however, I received the following letter from Mr.
Larcom on this subject, and as it speaks for itself, better than any thing I could say, I have
no hesitation in giving it in full here: " In connection with the introduction of vaccination
into this territory, I now have the honor to report for your information, that on my represent-
ing to H. E. the Nawáb of Janjirá how very beneficial the prevention of inoculation would
be, H. E. the Nawáb has issued orders that it be stopped, and the Mahálkaries have received
orders to prevent the former practice of inoculation, and the persons practising it have been
warned that for the future they are not to inoculate any one." From this it will be gathered
that vaccination will at least get a fair trial in Janjírá, and I am hopeful, from the progress
that it has already made, though short the time since its start, that it will eventually work
its own popularity amongst the people and be sought after generally, to the exclusion of
inoculation, when it becomes known how safe is its practice and how great the amount of
protection it affords. I cannot conclude these remarks about the introduction of vaccination
into Janjirá without stating my conviction that it is entirely owing to the exertion and
interest taken in the subject by Mr. Larcom, the Assistant Political Agent, that I am thus
able to take so hopeful a view of it. It was by his influence that His Highness the Nawáb
was induced to set aside the sum he has for the furtherance of the object, and it was his
exertions in explaining to the people the great and lasting advantages to be derived from
vaccination, that induced them to adopt it so readily. I am naturally diffident in making
any suggestion with regard to this matter, but I think it would be only just that all the labour
and trouble he has had in furthering this humane object should be brought prominently to
the notice of Government and that they should receive all due acknowledgment.*
* This was done and acknowledged in Government Resolution No. 3667 of the 9th December 1871, and it does
not appear necessary to do it again.—P. S. T.