lxvi
RANCHEE CIRCLE.
I had no doubt of their truth for the reasons already given; and moreover the same men
had not in any way endeavored to escape inspection during my former stay with the party,
but on the contrary courted it. Yielding therefore to what seemed to be necessity, I deter-
mined to forego seeing the villages now, hoping to visit them again at the end of the season.
I was fully conscious that it could not be expected that the Sindooriahs would omit to take
advantage of such opportunity for imposition if they found that their reports were accepted
without inspection. It was therefore insisted that, at every sacrifice, even though work should
be stopped entirely, every case entered must be actually seen by the native superintendents,
or it would be excluded from my returns. The people made difficulties about them too to
a very great extent, but were much less averse to them than to Europeans. The native
superintendents could never tell where or when I should reappear, and consequently the
villages taken at random and seen by me may be considered fair specimens of the work of the
respective parties.
The native superintendents' returns were found by me in every instance to agree
strictly with the work inspected.
Eventually it was found that two Sindooriahs of this party did make false returns; and
they were fined and dismissed accordingly.
27. Leaving Khurruckdiha therefore my camp moved towards Semeria at the opposite
corner of the district to the south-west. On the road I saw the Manager of the Dhunwar
Rajah's estate (which is under the Court of Wards), and enlisted the aid of his influence at
Khurruckdiha which is in the Dhunwar illaqua, this he readily gave, and eventually the
consent of the people was again obtained by Ishak Khan, and though the weather was then
so hot that it was not thought advisable to vaccinate generally, a few were done, just to show
the people by the result that no harm was intended to them, and the rest left till next
season, the reason being explained to them.
28. My camp reached Semeria on 2nd March ; I found that some of Mendhie Hossein's
vaccinators had reached that place on February 22nd. It appeared that some eight or nine
deaths had occurred in village Kemtia. On their coming all those unprotected in that village,
and in one other village near, were vaccinated, and no more cases of small-pox occurred. The
people in those two villages were rendered more willing, probably by fear of the disease, and
their zemindar was friendly. All the neighbourhood around, however, obstinately refused,
though several days were spent in endeavoring to persuade them.
29. Mendhie Hossein's party were instructed to move back to Chitterpore, beyond
Ramgurh, where work still could be got probably, and meantime on March 6th, I started
north-eastwards towards Jynuggur to see the work of Ellahee Bux's (new) party.
On arrival there some delay occurred in collecting the men who had from circumstances
been too widely scattered, which caused much inconvenience. The work of this party was
brought to an end, owing to the heat, on the 19th of March.
That in the other two parties unfortunately went on a few days longer; indeed it should
have been stopped sooner in all three, but owing to the difficulty about the dâks the instruc-
tions to the native superintendents did not reach them in time. Towards the end nearly all
the cases failed or were doubtful, thus bringing down the percentage of success considerably.
The heat had also interfered with success in a part of February, though afterwards some
storms had cooled the ail again ; and recourse was largely had to crusts from Almorah.
30. A number of villages done by the Jynuggur party were examined, and the camp
moved southwards on March 26th, more villages being inspected on the road. Jynuggur was
one of the places where cordial assistance was rendered by Dowlut Singh, the Agent of the
Rajah, and Akbar Ally Khan, the Illaquadar ; the people therefore made but little difficulty.
31. Below Hazareebagh I again met the work of the Ramgurh party (now under
Mendhie Hossein) and several of the villages were inspected, after which the camp
moved towards Ranchee (the hot wind having now for some time been blowing fiercely),
which I reached early in April. This party had received very great assistance from Golam
Rusool, the Zemindar of Chitterpore, whose aid was most valuable.
32. On reviewing the proceedings of the season it was evident that Mendhie Hossein's
conduct had shown decided apathy in the work, and that his general management of his
men was by no means successful. The affair at Domchah too caused misgiving in my
mind as to his honesty in money matters.