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"but they were only tenants, and they feared that if they asked the landlord to
close or cover the well and supply a pump, their rent would be enhanced.
387. But this attitude is not universal. Unfortunately it is among the
very classes, who, if they chose to do so, could eradicate autochthonous malaria
from the greater part of the City within a year, that opposition has been chiefly
met with in the past; and this opposition is likely to prove the greatest obstacle
in the future.
388. Early in the investigation very little difficulty was met with in the
examination of wells and other possible breeding places on private property,
tut directly action began to be taken by the municipal authorities against
owners of such breeding places, opposition was encountered more frequently ;
and this opposition usually came from those who were educated, wealthy and
influential. In one case, a wealthy and influential house-owner, possessing
many houses in one of the best parts of Bombay, thereatened to take proceed-
ings for trespass in the event of any of his properties being visited. In
another case, the owner of a large mansion, in the grounds of which there were
five wells, objected to their being examined and stated that for eight years no
municipal inspector had crossed his threshold ; but eventually he allowed the
examination to proceed after being informed that it was for the purpose of an
investigation under Government.
389. "Within the past two years also when proceedings have been taken by
the Sanitary Authorities against property-owners, with a view to enforcing the
adoption of precautions against the breeding of dangerous anopheles, every
conceivable excuse has been put forward as a reason for non-compliance. Some
well-owners suggested that the covering of wells would be " Disastrous and lead
to an outbreak of some pest on account of the accumulated bad gases and
stench forcibly confined to wells."
Another idea put forward was that the drains and sewers of the City were
leaky and that this was the cause of the trouble. One protest mentioned
that —
" It is generally said and believed that our municipal leaky sewers and
" drains allow sewage water to run into wells and pollute them, and hence
" mosquito germs are produced or helped to be produced."
390. Another opinion which appears to have received very general
acceptance, is voiced thus :—
"It is, I think, admitted that wells and tanks, besides being of constant
" use ordinarily and specially under emergencies, are natural reservoirs or
" places for the accumulation of sub-soil water whenever the nature of the
"land is watery
and Bombay land is watery. If they are filled in or
" the places of accumulation are done away with, the sub-soil water
" must naturally rise to the surface and do much harm and mischief to the
" general health."
391. Religious scruples have been put forward again and again as a reason
for not protecting a well.
Thus a Hindu gentleman stated regarding a well which he had been asked
to cover :—
" That the well in question is a charitable property, that it is used only
" for bathing purposes by persons visiting the neighbouring temple of which
" it is an adjunct; that the filling up of the well or even the closing it so as
" to shut off the rays of the sun will hurt the religious susceptibilities of the
"pious Hindus of the locality."
392. In another case it was put forward by a firm of solicitors as a reason
for their clients not complying with an order to cover a well that—
" The proposed measures are repugnant to eastern ideas and if carried
" out would wound the religious susceptibilities of their clients and would
" disable them from performing their religious ceremonies and from
" washing dead bodies, and would interfere with their religious liberty;
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