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and the father was left without any means, so he was given Es. 5 to support his
family while he sought re-employment. He was also given a certificate setting forth
his hard case. In due course he got a new place and came to the hospital to report
the same and to thank Government for their help.
Widow through
plague.
When a poor woman loses her husband in a plague hospital, a very, very
frequent occurrence, as almost every Hindu has a wife, and the woman is left helpless
perhaps with a large family, she and her children are kept for 10 days in a camp.
After that, if they have not developed plague, their circumstances are enquired into,
and, if poor, they are helped. The woman and her children are usually sent home
to her native village if she has any friends or relatives there, the journey money for
all is provided and sufficient for their support for a fortnight, three weeks or a
month after their arrival home according to their circumstances. If they desire to
stay in Bombay, friends or relations are hunted up and means for a month's support
provided, Thus, Mazana Bayi lost both her husband Hone and her daughter Govi
(8) of plague in the Arthur Road. She had two little boys and a mother-in-law to
support. She was given Rs. 7 for food and secured free quarters for the present in
a plague refuge camp. Again, one Darkabi, widow of Nanbhai, lost her brother,
Gunput Govind, of plague in the Maratha Hospital. He was her only support.
She was given Rs. 5 for her immediate support and intended to seek domestic
service.
In another case a woman, called Hannahbai, lost her husband, Moses Suliman,
of plague in the Beni-Israel Hospital. She had two children, aged 3 years and
3 months, respectively, and was very poor, weak and helpless. She was given Rs. 10
to support herself and her family till strong enough to work as a servant. But
nearly all the women left widows through the ravages of plague desire to go to their
country where they are known and have friends. Of this innumerable examples
might be quoted, a few are given below.
Muktabai, widow of Narayan Babaji, who died of plague in the Maratha
Hospital, had four little children (two girls 8 and 6, one boy 3 and one baby-girl 1).
Her husband was a victoria driver. For his carriage he paid the cab-master
Rs. 4-8-0 a day, and all earnings beyond were his own. He was ill for over a month
and ¡so his widow was left without any means. They were all supported with rations
in the hospital camp while the man was ill, and when he died they were all sent
home to Khedgaum in Satara District, being given two blankets, Rs. 5 for tickets
and Rs. 5 for food.
Sheboo was left a widow through the death of her husband from plague in the
Mahomedan General Hospital. She was alone in Bombay without means and
without friends. At Karad lived her mother, who owned a little land and who was
supporting Sheboo's daughter. So she was sent home at a cost of Rs. 5.
Another widow Satwaji and her little son were sent home to Serani in the
Poona District, her husband having died of plague in the Maratha Hospital and
left her penniless. At Serani she had friends. Cost to the Fund Rs. 5. A woman,
Hurni, who had lost her husband through plague in Arthur Road Hospital was,
with her two little boys, sent home to Ahmednagar to her mother-in-law at a cost
of Rs. 5.
While in the case of Luximan who died of plague in the Maratha Hospital,
leaving a widow and four small children of ages ranging from 3 to 10 absolutely
helpless, they were all shipped to Ratnagiri to Chiplun, their native town and
given tickets and some means for support, in all Rs. 12. This was a very dis-
tressing case, for even at Chiplun they had no relations and would have to rely on
friends.