Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 2.djvu/164

Laughton and Cooke, to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary of Natal with reference to the matter, and asking if His Excellency the Governor would receive a deputation. (App. D.) Reply thereto was received from Maritzburg on the 22nd that there would be no need of a deputation, for reasons stated in Appendix E. But after their solicitors had despatched the telegram, they were informed that His Excellency was in Durban, whereupon they wrote a letter to the Honourable Harry Escombe to much the same effect (App. F), and a reply thereto was received, saying that, while the ministers would be referred to for advice in the matter, if it was so wished, a deputation would be received by His Excellency on the 23rd. (App. G.) On the 22nd the master of the Courland signalled as follows: “Our days have expired; are we out of quarantine? Please consult Quarantine Officer, report we all well. Thanks.” (App. A.) To this a reply was signalled to the effect that the length of quarantine was not decided till then. A similar signal was sent from the Naderi with a similar result. Your Memorialists may here parenthetically remark that the owners and agents were kept absolutely in the dark as to what was going on between the masters of the vessels and the officers on shore. On the 23rd, a reply to signals from the Naderi said: “Quarantine Officer has no instructions yet.” (App. B.) From the solicitors’ letter (App. P), it appears that since the Health Officer had ordered that the ships were to remain in quarantine until 23 days had elapsed after the day of their departure from Bombay, he was suspended or dismissed, and Dr. Birtwell put in his place. On the 24th, Dr. Birtwell and the Superintendent of Water Police boarded the vessels and examined passengers and crew, gave instructions as to disinfection, fumigation and burning of soiled clothing, all mats, baskets and useless articles in the donkey furnace, and imposed 11 and 12 days’ quarantine on the Courland and Naderi respectively. (App. A & B.) In accordance with the instructions, much of the old clothing, mats, etc., were burnt, and fumigation and disinfection carried on. On the 28th, a police officer boarded each vessel with instructions to superintend the use of disinfectants. The following signal was hoisted on the 29th, from the Courland: “Disinfection and fumigation carried out to satisfaction of officer on board.” A similar signal was also sent from the Naderi on the same day. The Courland signalled again: “We are ready, waiting for the Quarantine Officer”, and Dr. Birtwell went, inspected the ships, and declared himself satisfied with the manner in which his orders had been carried out; but