WATER. 57 



to do it without the tenant threatening to do it him- 

 self and deduct the cost out of the rent. There are 

 professional well-cleaners in ^Northern India, who 

 will do the work by contract. As a rule, it takes 

 about three days, as the well has to be pumped dry 

 by working the lifting wheel with relays of bullocks 

 day and night, when a man goes down and removes 

 the accumulation of rubbish from the bottom. Care 

 should be taken to first lower down a lighted candle, 

 or throw a bundle of lighted straw down before any 

 one is allowed to descend, as there is frequently an 

 accumulation of foul gas at the bottom, and I have 

 known more than one accident from neglect of this 

 precaution. Unless I had very good reason for 

 knowing that the well had been lately cleaned, I 

 always had this done on going into a new house. If 

 this is neglected, the water during the rainy season 

 is apt to get very foul, and I have known severe 

 outbreaks of illness from this cause both in men and 

 animals. 



