17
Beggars, Va-
gabonds and
Effects of Fa-
mine.
From February to May 1900 the Fort Section suffered very much from an
influx of emigrants from Kathiawar, Gnjerat and Ahmednagar Districts, driven in
by famine. The mortality amongst these people, who have been numbered at from
4 to 5 thousand, was very high. Wasted before arrival by hunger, eating food quite
unsuitable to their condition of life, they were the first to bo attacked by
Plague. Sheltering in foul corners for shelter, using old rags picked up anyhow
for bedding, it is little wonder that they were readily infected. It was this
mortality partly that caused the mortality of the district to read so high. From
the month of February to May 1900 there were 137 : deaths (90), and removals
(47) for Plague alone amongst these emigrants.
Colaba.
Coarse of the
Epidemic.
June 1899.—6 cases of Plague, Thomas Street, infected.
July.—10 cases of Plague, Thomas Street, Hamal and Borah Streets.
August.— 9 cases of Plague, 2 cases occurred in Nowroji Road and 2 cases on
Victoria Bunder, a neighbourhood, which suffered most severely in the previous epi-
demics.
September.—5 cases of Plague, Hamal Street continued infected alone.
October.—\\ cases of Plague continued in the village. A case occurred in
Grant Buildings, on the Causeway, and again 2 cases occurred on Victoria Bunder.
November.—16 cases of Plague, Hamal Street alone severely infected, excepting
4th Koli Lane where Plague spread among the fishers.
December.—65 cases of Plague during this month ; the epidemic was entirely
confined to Colaba village ; nearly every street being infected, except Hormasji and
Maneckji Streets. Victoria Bunder being, except for 2 cases, quite free.
January.—67 cases of Plague,—Gun Carriage Street and Hamal Street were the
centre of the disease in the village. This month infection was carried to Uppor
Colaba, 2 miles away, to the Lascar Lines where many cases occurred, and also to
Apollo Bunder among the work-people on the new buildings occupying temporary
huts. Colaba village was undoubtedly the centre from which infection spread, as
there was close connection of class and occupation. Cases also occurred on Victoria
Bunder but did not spread.
February.—112 cases of Plague. Lascar's Lines, Upper Colaba were terribly
infected in one small chawl, 23 out of 52 being attacked almost simultaneously.
The Military authorities acted with the greatest promptness. Mortality among
rats very marked all over Colaba. The Tramway Stables, Colaba Causeway were
badly infected. Cases still continued on Victoria Bunder. Infection very marked
in Maneckji Street and Hamal Street.
March,—75 cases of Plague. Bat mortality still continued. History of rats
in 3 cases which occurred in several bungalows of Middle Colaba. Lunatic Asylum
attacked, which is quite out on the point. No Plague in Lascar Lines. Very bad in
the village. Two cases in Grant Buildings.
Aiiril.—65 cases of Plague,—chawls of warders, Lunatic Asylum, highly infected.
Bora Cross Lane and Thomas Street in the village continue infected. Victoria
Bunder quite free ; this was the neighbourhood which suffered so last year. All
temporary buildings have been removed on this Bunder.
May.—24 cases. Remarkable that local segregation camp became infected, 3
cases occurred, but disease did not spread, Hamal Street and Pestonjee Street
continue infected.