EVACUATION.]
31
the two dacoities in Kittur, bad place as it is, would not, I think, have taken place but for the
emptiness of the town. I am of opinion that house-breaking is the crime which has increased
the most owing to the presence of plague. It is easier and safer to break into a house which
has been evacuated than into a house which is occupied."
And Mr. Carmichael, I. C. S., the Collector, agrees with his conclusions.
In comparing the figures for crime for the years 1894, 1895, 1896 and 1898, at Belgaum,
those for 1898 are greater than those for 1894 and 1895, and those for 1896 greater than
those for 1898. The District Superintendent of Police explains this by saying that 1896 was
an exceptional year for crime, but gives no reasons for the rise of crime in that year, and the
same argument might perhaps be adduced for the excess of crime in 1898 apart from
plague.
(ii.) Evacuation and Health.
The statement that evacuation is injurious to the health of the population turned out into
the fields is not in accordance either with facts or with the opinions of Collectors and others
who have had the best means of judging. This is shown by the extracts from reports for the
districts quoted below.
By the Medical Officer, Pálanpur, forwarded by Mr. P. S. V. Fitzgerald, Political
Superintendent :—
"As far as my experience goes, I think that life in Camps or Huts in open fields is much
more healthy than that in Towns or Villages. I have seen that, during the last epidemic of
plague, when the town of Pálanpur as well as other Villages under it that were infected were
evacuated and the people were living in huts in open fields outside, they kept their health
much better than they did while living in the town or villages either before or after evacua-
tion, notwithstanding the various hardships and sufferings they had then to undergo while
living outside. A great many of them were ill-fed, ill-clad, badly sheltered, and, moreover,
had to bear up against the inclemency of weather, such as showers of rain, stormy-winds,
extreme cold, etc., and yet they kept their health far better than they usually did in ordinary
times while living within the town or villages."
The general death-rate from other causes than plague was very much lower than at
ordinary times, as will be ascertained by comparing the following figures :—
Pálanpur.
Number of deaths other than plague
Number of deaths when they
when people were living in Camps out-
were living in the town when
side the town when there was plague:—
there was no plague :—
(1) November 1897
9
November 1898
39
(2) December 1897
18
December 1898
25
The general sickness was also much less than usual."
Kaira :—*
" The people, I think, are much healthier while living in the fields when plague is prevalent.
I have visited several of the affected villages and have found them in better health and
cheerful spirits. From the conversation I have had with them, I learn that they felt a little
hardship in the beginning and suffered slightly from cold, etc., but they after some time found
the field-life comfortable. At Umreth I asked some of the people whether they were willing
to occupy their houses, but they told me that they would do so after the plague had entirely
disappeared from their town. This will show that they prefer to live in fields, because they
feel comfortable and healthier."
Khandesh :—†
"The general opinion of the two officers in this District, who have had most experience of
plague, is that life in Gamps and Huts is more healthy than life in the Villages."
Rewa Kantha :— ‡
"I have the honour to state that the only village or town infected with plague in this
Agency up to now is Chhota Udepur, and the Administrator of that State reports that
* Collector of Kaira's No. 538 of 25th January 1899.
† Collector of Khandesh's No. 1065 of 1st February 1899.
‡ Political Agent, Rewa Kantha's No. 151 of 31st January 1899.