40
SONTHAL PERGUNNAHS.
influential man with the first one, had yielded chiefly through my influence and persuasion
and set the example to all the villages under him, which gradually came one after another
to accept vaccination. There were still however many villages which would not yield
until the people of Heranpore had first set them the example. This was a most serious
obstacle. For the mundel of Heranpore who had at first promised to be our friend, had
afterwards not only resisted several successive attempts made by vaccinators but had even
instructed all the villages under his influence to follow his example. He was also secretly
on the look out for an inoculator so that by introducing inoculation among the villages; he
might the more effectually thwart our purpose. Month after month elapsed and these
villages stood out in open defiance, till my vaccinators began to complain that until the
mundel of Heranpore could be won, over, the work of vaccination in Pakour would be a
failure. I accordingly determined in one of my visits towards the latter end of February,
to make a last attempt upon Heranpore. A case of small pox, as mentioned before in one
of my special reports, had then appeared in the mission house there. The converts attached
to the house, together with a portion of the village adjoining it, had been, vaccinated. I
called on the mundel and at first explained to him the urgent necessity of getting all the
people of his village vaccinated, but finding him still inexorable. I, at last, had recourse to
certain threats not altogether groundless. I told him that small-pox had, already appear-
ed in the neighbourhood, that there was every likelihood of its affecting the unprotected
people of his village, and that should he allow it to do so by rejecting the offers of sure pro-
tection that were now given, he, as mundel, would certainly be held responsible for every
death that might occur. I, at the same time, made a sham reprimand to my vaccinators
ordering them, on pain of dismissal, never again to set their foot in Heranpore where
they were so disgracefully treated and so often forled in their attempts, but to go and mind
their business elsewhere. This had the desired effect. From the very next day the mundel
began to induce the people to accept vaccination and a few days afterwards when he had
fully prepared their minds he sent for one of my vaccinators.
Thus one of the most important villages in Pakour sub-division was brought over to our
side and one of the most obstinate people here (the moyras) whose prejudices for three suc-
cessive seasons I have nowhere been able to overcome was here subdued. And thus
vaccination made rapid progress in the north-westerly portion of Pakour sub-division till
the area overtaken bordered upon that of the south-westerly portion of Rajmehal.
The two vaccinators employed at Pakour were also very energetic and successful in
stamping out certain out-breaks of small-pox mentioned below.
Co-operation of civil
authorities
I must however confess that I owe a great deal, for the establishing of vaccination
in this sub-division, to the hearty co-operation of Mr. T. R. Hand the extra Assistant Com-
missioner, who was kind enough, at my request, to furnish my vaccinators with perwanahs,
addressed to all the Purgonytes and Mundels of his district These perwanahs are of
great use to us; for they serve as passports among the rude and barbarous people with
whom we have to deal. We are not even reckoned as Government servants or allowed
quarters in their villages until we have shown that we bore the " seal and mohur " of the
burra sahib of the district or sub-division.
Operation in Rajme-
hal
4. In Rajmehal sub-division we had not many difficulties to encounter. Here many
villages had been protected in previous years, and the people, especially the Sonthals, have
in most places learnt to appreciate the benefits of vaccination.
Four of my vaccinators were at first placed to work in this sub-division Second grade
vaccinator, Oghore Nauth Mookerjee, was employed near Burhart, a large village not less
than 24 miles away from the town of Rajmehal, with instructions to proceed southward;
third grade vaccinators Anundo Lall Mohunto and Bhagiruth Doss were posted between
Burhait on the south, and Burio on the north, and were told to proceed westward and
northward; and first grade vaccinator Peary Mohun Dass was temporarily stationed to the
west of Teenpahar with orders to go over to Godda as soon as a sufficient supply of matter
was obtained.
Very satisfactory.
The work in Rajmehal sub-division has also progressed very satisfactorily; several
new places which had never before witnessed the effects of vaccination have this year been
protected, and the areas extended especially into the southerly and westerly portions of the
district; those in the former have, in some places as already pointed out, nearly come in
contact with those of the north-westerly portions of Pakour; and those in the latter have
in a few places nearly approached the boundaries of Godda sub-division.
Godda.
5. First grade vaccinator, Peary Mohun Dass, was sent to Godda in December. He
worked there for that month and a portion of January, and protected seven villages in
Muneeharee pergunnah where he vaccinated a total number of 595 persons. I inspected
his cases in February, but was told that further progress was impossible from the vigorous