348
[CHAP. XI.
Porbandar Town.
Population—18,505.
Third Epidemic.—The next phase of plague in Káthiáwár was the sudden infection of
Porbandar. Up to 17th May 1898 Porbandar had reported
nothing but imported cases, although increased mortality among
the Khárwas had been noticed from the beginning of the month.
During the next two days it reported 4 cases, and in the succeeding week 37 cases—26 deaths.
The origin of the outbreak is unknown :—
" As it is impossible to say which was the first case of plague, the channel of its intro-
duction cannot be confidently determined, but the Medical Officer here is of opinion that the
disease has been communicated by direct contagion with some infected articles imported by
the country boats into Porbandar, probably cotton-seeds, of which great quantities have
lately come from Karáchi and other places."
The first measure adopted was the prevention of the Khárwas mixing with the rest of
the population. House-to-house inspection was carried out in the Khárvavad by a Committee
composed of 1 State official, 1 medical man, and 4 headmen of the community. Plague cases
were removed to a hospital, and contacts to an observation camp established on the other side
of the creek, and orders were issued for a thorough whitewashing and disinfection of
vacated houses.
It was, however, felt that nothing short of complete evacuation of the locality would be
effectual. The Khárvavad is described to be a place consisting of about 900 houses "most of
which are so crowded together, so inaccessible to light and air, and otherwise so insanitary
as to be almost unfit for occupation by human beings." After some persuasion the Khár-
was agreed to remove to the observation camp beyond the creek and the evacuation of the
quarter was carried out with commendable despatch. " Hutting materials were supplied to
them, and by the evening of the 20th May and within 24 hours of their having consented
to vacate their houses, the whole of the Khárwa community, numbering about 3,500 persons,
was located in huts built by themselves in the observation camp. The Shiah Borahs, Kaba-
valias and others who lived either in the Khárvavad or in the immediate vicinity were also
segregated."
After the removal of the Khárwas to camp, their houses were disinfected and opened up
to light and air. A permenant improvement was effected by opening up the congested part
of their quarter and several houses were pulled down and substituted by others constructed
on approved sanitary principles at the public expense.
These vigorous measures promptly checked the epidemic, and between the 25th of May
and the 12th of June 1898 there were only 4 cases. But the monsoon burst on the 11th of
June and re-occupation of vacated houses, had perforce to be allowed. In spite of all pre-
cautions, plague again broke out on the loth June in the Khárvavad, and as it showed no
signs of abatement the authorities once more decided on evacuation and commenced building
watertight sheds capable of accommodating 3,500 people on the other side of the creek.
But they were determined to lose no time in turning the people out, and, until the camp was
ready, accommodated 1,500 people in some 65 vessels which were lying moored in the creek,
as the trading season had closed. Others were housed in some available buildings and in
temporary huts. On the 8th July the camp was ready and the whole of the Khárwa com-
munity was transferred to it, and their neighbours to other camps.
Meantime, however, the disease spread to other quarters of the town, and complete eva-
cuation was an impossiblity. All that could be done was house-to-house inspection, removal
of patients to hospital, and contacts to segregation camps, with disinfection of houses. The
Mahomedans, who numbered 4,369, and next to the Khárwas returned the largest proportion
of victims, were also removed to camps. The progress of the epidemic is thus described by
Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Snell, the Administrator of the State :—