4
their number from going to infected places for labour or for marketing-,
and so, in spite of all, some of the "villages in Bulsár Táluka were ravaged.
(7) The sea quarantine rules worked well, and that they warded off
danger through the sea ports may be inferred from the fact that in Damaun,
where there were no such rules, or they were easily evaded, the disease was
first introduced by ship from Karachi.
8. "With regard to expenditure, I take this opportunity of respectfully
protesting against the injustice of assessing so much upon the Local Boards
whose means are so small and who will thereby be crippled for useful work for
a long time to come and of totally exempting the bodies to whom, more than
to any one else, the trouble is owing, viz. the Railway Companies. Former out-
breaks of plague have been destructive enough within their own limited areas,
but this time the whole of India has been endangered owing to the ready com-
munication which exists between Bombay and all other parts of the country,
It seems unfair that the Ahmedabad Municipality, for instance, should have to
bear the sole cost of housing and treating a crowd of people who have no local
claim whatever, simply because they are cast up at the station by the Railway
Company who have carried .them from Bombay for the sake of profit.
9. It would be false delicacy to conceal the fact that in this the people's hour
of trouble, scarcely one of those who pose as their leaders came forward to save
them from death, although patriotic and educated men would have been specially
valuable as interpreters of the teachings of science to the ignorant masses. The
Municipalities abjectly broke down when they were not dissolved by the flight of
most of the members. It is a pleasure to me to be able to mention individuals
who saved the national character. The Honourable Mr. Ranchodlál Chotálál,
C.I.E., in Ahmedabad co-operated with his usual· wisdom and good sense. The
same may be said of Ráo Bahádur Chunilál Venilál, C.I.E., at Broach. Mr. Kuverji
Bhaidás, a broker in Bulsár, came forward at a very critical time and worked
strenuously and successfully to establish a hospital and induce his fellow towns-
men to go to it. Mr. Bulákhidás, Mr. Abdul Razak and Mr. Jivanji Dialabh,
the two latter Municipal servants at Bulsár, were indefatigable and deserve
much credit. Mr. Merwáuji Jehángirji at Santa Cruz must be mentioned with
distinction, and praise is also du« to Mr. D. J. DeMonte and Mr. Antone
Gonsalves at Vesáve and Mr. Ramzanbhai Rahimbhai at Kurla. Ráo Sáheb
W. G. Dándekar, Vice-President of the Máhim Municipality, showed an interest
in the protection of his native place. In Bándra, the command was entrusted
by Government to the capable hands of Mr. Gilbert. He was assisted by
Messrs. Little, DeMonte, E. Howse; N. Fattehally, Kharas, Smeetham, B. M.
Malbári, and Inspectors Newman and Baila Náráyan. The gentle and devoted
service of sisters Magdalene, Katherine and Elizabeth and of Miss Ritchie needs
no comment here, Bulsár owes much of its deliverance to the unfailing tact
and sympathy of Mrs. Dyson. Lastly, may be mentioned Mr. Pestanji, an
excellent Inspector in Bándra, who caught the disease while in active and
conscientious discharge of his duties and died of it.
10. The names of those Government servants which have been brought
to notice by the Collectors will, I trust, be marked clown for special recognition,
I would add the naine of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Bartholemeuze at Ahmed-
abad. Surgeon-Major Mistri at Broach also did his duty. With very few
exceptions, all whose services were demanded, whether Europeans or natives,
worked actively and effectively. Owing to the novelty of the situation and the
pressure of events, the regular lines of administration were somewhat upset, and
there was some confusion of authority, but nothing could have been more admir-
able than the self-sacrifice and loyalty which actuated all ranks and avoided all
appearance of friction,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
F. S. P. LELY,
Acting Commissioner, N, IX