The Black Plague, Part I

The Indians were not removed from the location as soon as the Municipality secured its ownership. It was necessary to find the residents suitable new quarters before dispossessing them, but as the Municipality could not easily do this the Indians were suffered to stay in the same ‘dirty’ location, with this difference, that their condition became worse than before. Having ceased to be proprietors they became tenants of the Municipality, with the result that their surroundings became more insanitary than ever. When they were proprietors, they had to maintain some sort of cleanliness, if only for fear of the law. The Municipality had no such fear! The number of tenants increased, and with them the squalor and the disorder.

The Indians were not removed from the settlement as soon as the Municipality took ownership of it. The residents had to be given suitable new places to live before they could be displaced. But the Municipality could not easily find such places, so the Indians were allowed to stay in the same ‘dirty’ settlement. The difference was that their condition became worse than before. They were no longer owners but tenants of the Municipality, and their surroundings became more unsanitary than ever. As owners, they had to keep the place somewhat clean, if only for fear of the law. The Municipality had no such fear! The number of tenants increased, and so did the squalor and disorder.

While the Indians were fretting over this state of things, there was a sudden outbreak of the black plague, also called the pneumonic plague, more terrible and fatal than the bubonic.

While the Indians were worrying about this state of affairs, the black plague suddenly broke out. Also called pneumonic plague, it was more terrible and deadly than bubonic plague.

Fortunately, it was not the location but one of the gold mines in the vicinity of Johannesburg that was responsible for the outbreak. The workers in this mine were for the most part Negroes, for whose cleanliness their white employers were solely responsible. There were a few Indians also working in connection with the mine, twenty-three of whom suddenly caught the infection, and returned one evening to their quarters in the location with an acute attack of the plague. Sjt. Madanjit, who was then going about canvassing subscribers for Indian Opinion and realising subscriptions, happened to be in the location at this moment. He was a remarkably fearless man. His heart wept to see these victims of the scourge, and he sent a pencil-note to me to the following effect: ‘There has been a sudden outbreak of the black plague. You must come immediately and take prompt measures, otherwise we must be prepared for dire consequences. Please come immediately.’

Fortunately, the outbreak began not in the location but at a gold mine near Johannesburg. Most of the mine workers were Black, and their white employers were solely responsible for their cleanliness. A few Indians also worked at the mine. Twenty-three of them suddenly became infected and returned one evening to their quarters in the location, suffering from acute plague. Sjt. Madanjit happened to be in the location at the time. He was then seeking subscribers for Indian Opinion and collecting subscription payments. He was a remarkably fearless man. His heart wept at the sight of the victims, and he sent me a note in pencil that said in effect: ‘There has been a sudden outbreak of the black plague. You must come immediately and take prompt action, or we must be prepared for dire consequences. Please come immediately.’

Sjt. Madanjit bravely broke open the lock of a vacant house, and put all the patients there. I cycled to the location, and wrote to the Town Clerk to inform him of the circumstances in which we had taken possession of the house.

Sjt. Madanjit bravely broke the lock on an empty house and put all the patients inside. I cycled there and wrote to the Town Clerk. I explained the circumstances in which we had taken over the house.

Dr. William Godfrey, who was practising in Johannesburg, ran to the rescue as soon as he got the news, and became both nurse and doctor to the patients. But twenty-three patients were more than three of us could cope with.

Dr. William Godfrey was practicing in Johannesburg. As soon as he heard the news, he rushed to help. He became both nurse and doctor to the patients. But twenty-three patients were more than the three of us could handle.

It is my faith, based on experience, that if one’s heart is pure, calamity brings in its train men and measures to fight it. I had at that time four Indians in my office,—Sjts. Kalyandas, Maneklal, Gunvantrai Desai and another whose name I cannot recollect. Kalyandas had been entrusted to me by his father. I have rarely come across in South Africa any one more obliging and willing to render implicit obedience than Kalyandas. He was fortunately unmarried then, and I therefore did not hesitate to impose on him duties involving risks, however great. Maneklal I had secured in Johannesburg. He too, so far as I can remember, was unmarried. So I decided to sacrifice all four—call them clerks, co-workers or sons. There was no need at all to consult Kalyandas. The others expressed their readiness as soon as they were asked. ‘Where you are, we will also be,’ was their short and sweet reply.

My experience has taught me that if one’s heart is pure, calamity brings people and means to fight it. At that time, I had four Indians in my office: Kalyandas, Maneklal, Gunvantrai Desai, and another whose name I cannot remember. Kalyandas’s father had entrusted him to me. I rarely met anyone in South Africa more helpful or more willing to obey without question than Kalyandas. Fortunately, he was unmarried then, so I did not hesitate to give him duties involving risks, however great. I had hired Maneklal in Johannesburg. As far as I can remember, he too was unmarried. So I decided to sacrifice all four, whether I called them clerks, co-workers, or sons. There was no need to consult Kalyandas at all. The others agreed as soon as I asked them. Their short and sweet reply was, ‘Where you are, we will be too.’

Mr. Ritch had a large family. He was ready to take the plunge, but I prevented him. I had not the heart to expose him to the risk. So he attended to the work outside the danger zone.

Mr. Ritch had a large family. He was ready to take the plunge, but I stopped him. I could not bring myself to expose him to the risk. So he worked outside the danger zone.

It was a terrible night—that night of vigil and nursing. I had nursed a number of patients before, but never any attacked by the black plague. Dr. Godfrey’s pluck proved infectious. There was not much nursing required. To give them their doses of medicine, to attend to their wants, to keep them and their beds clean and tidy, and to cheer them up was all that we had to do.

It was a terrible night. We stayed awake, nursing the patients. I had nursed many patients before, but never anyone suffering from the black plague. Dr. Godfrey’s courage inspired us. There was not much nursing to do. All we had to do was give the patients their medicine, attend to their needs, keep them and their beds clean and tidy, and cheer them up.

The indefatigable zeal and fearlessness with which the youths worked rejoiced me beyond measure. One could understand the bravery of Dr. Godfrey and of an experienced man like Sjt. Madanjit. But oh for the spirit of these callow youths!

The young men worked tirelessly and fearlessly, and their enthusiasm filled me with joy. One could understand the bravery of Dr. Godfrey and an experienced man like Sjt. Madanjit. But what a spirit these inexperienced young men showed!

So far as I can recollect, we pulled all the patients through that night.

As far as I can remember, we helped all the patients survive that night.

But the whole incident, apart from its pathos, is of such absorbing interest, and for me, of such religious value, that I must devote to it at least two more chapters.

But beyond its sadness, the whole incident is so absorbing and has such religious value for me that I must devote at least two more chapters to it.