352 [CHAP. XL
Unfortunately, the disease spread from Bantwa to three neighbouring villages, Buri,
Nkra and Kambhla; but they were completely evacuated, and the disease consequently
never got a firm hold on any of them, and died out in a brief space of time.
To return to the Agency generally-
Sardrgadh, a large town, was reported as infected on 17th July 1898, and Salya on
the 11th August. Dead rats were found previous to the outbreak in the latter place, and the
occurrence of the first cases produced a panic. Lieutenant-Colonel W. P. Kennedy, Admini-
strator, Navnagar State, writes-
" On arrival here with Mr. O'Connor on Saturday last, 13th August, I found the
town almost absolutely deserted, the inhabitants having stealthily at night left the
place through fear during the last few days. Approximately about two-thirds of the
population have distributed themselves in 31 villages of this State, the rest, with the
exception of those remaining in the place, embarked on 20 vessels, and were prepared
to go, but were stopped by the Chief Customs Officer pending my arrival. Out of a
population of 3,273, only some 100 townspeople remain; in addition to these, there are
the State and Government officials and their families. Many of the townspeople have,
left, taking nothing with them and leaving their household property and ornaments and
stores of merchandise behind."
As regards its origin, he says-
" In my opinion the plague was not imported by human beings coming into the
place from infected areas, and that everything points to its inception through ruts
which must have come from some infected port, Bombay, Karchi, Mndvi (Cutch),
Porbandar or Beyt, as there is frequent communication by sea between Salya and these
ports. But so far it is impossible to say to which of these places, one or more, the
mischief is traceable.
" At any rate the plague in Salya must be classed as indigenous."
But it soon declined, and by the end of October there was very little plague in
the Agency: Khamblia alone showing 18-16 out of 39-35. The following table
gives the monthly plague cases and deaths in the State (excluding Bantwa and Porbandar)
from 1st August 1898 to 30th November 1898 :-
Month.
Cases.
Deaths.
August 1898 ........
71
49
September "
230
177
October "
254
209
November "
51
33
Total ...
606
463
Thereafter plague continued in a slight degree, but no indigenous case has occurred
since the 17th March 1899. The figures, both imported and indigenous, reported from the
beginning of November 1898 to 31st May 1899 are :-
Months.
Cases.
Deaths.
Goinj ...............
21
15
Khakarda ...............
17
17
Khambaiia ...
12
12
Kambhla ...
14
9
Porbandar ... ...
11
6
Vadatra
10
8
Wadhwan ... ...
9
7
Other places .....
41
26
Total ...
135*
100*
* 30-17 imported,