cHAP.v A SHOOT IN AN INDIAN STATE 37 



small was the margin of strength among the 

 people. 



Like any one else in similar circumstances, I 

 naturally did all I could to relieve distress. But 

 the cartage by camel of rations on any scale 

 except for my own people was impossible. We 

 took a few of the worst cases with us, fed them, 

 treated their sores, and sent them back. Here, 

 however, we were handicapped by the unwilling- 

 ness of the people to leave their homes. Even 

 a trip of ten or twenty miles to the nearest 

 dispensary was considered a tremendous under- 

 taking. 



On one or two occasions the offer was made 

 that the patient should be sent in free to the 

 nearest British Civil Hospital and there main- 

 tained until cured. In no case was this accepted. 

 One man had had a useless arm for years. It was 

 broken, and could be bent at right angles, between 

 the shoulder and the elbow. This man was told 

 that some months under a skilled surgeon would 

 probably give him a sound arm : it should cost 

 him nothing. The man refused. 



Similar offers made to a woman with three 

 children (obviously dying from lack of nourish- 

 ment) to have one child educated and brought up 

 for a few years in a mission school, were not only 

 refused with tears, but brought a charge of sug- 

 gested kidnapping and slavery. 



With all this conservatism the people were 

 delightful to meet, civil and willing. They knew 

 nothing of the world. They turned out to beat 

 armed with spears, bows and arrows ; and these 

 weapons were also carried by the postmen on 



