HAPPY INDIA 133 



trickling rivulet must either be culverted, or its 

 banks must be cut straight so that the water shall 

 run clear through without little pools in which 

 the mosquitoes can lay their eggs. But when suffi- 

 cient care is taken, then the result is that there is 

 little or no malaria on that estate. It is remarkable 

 that the mosquitoes do not lay their eggs in muddy 

 water. A great muddy marsh, lake, or canal is 

 comparatively free from mosquitoes. Also, in dealing 

 with the great rivers of India, one has not so much 

 to fear them because they are nearly always muddy. 

 It is to be hoped that the Indian Government 

 will take the matter up. Why should the population 

 be weakened and degraded ? Why should the 

 British residents be continually invalided ? Those 

 in authority have only got to give the requisite 

 orders to their clever engineers, and this cause of 

 disease and death and decline and misery will be 

 removed. It may demand an outlay of capital, 

 but that would be soon repaid. If the British 

 Government cannot command that capital, then the 

 Government had better resign. 



