In the Jungle Villages of West Bengal by Mr. R. H. Leech; Mrs. R. H. Leech

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C.

FromReview and Herald, Harvest Ingathering Number

In the Jungle Villages of West Bengal

By Mr. R. H. Leech; Mrs. R. H. Leech

WE have opened mission and dispensary work at Jagadishpur, a little station right in the jungles, on a branch of the East Indian Railway. The country round about is thickly dotted with villages, set in among the jungles, with footpaths leading to them. We secured a small bungalow, but already our work has outgrown it. The dispensary work is carried on in a room eight by nine feet. In this little room 1,125 patients have been treated within five months.

AMONG THE JUNGLE VILLAGES OF WEST BENGAL

One feature of the work here is the dispensary cart, in which we travel among the villages. We have a box stocked with medical supplies that we take on all our trips, whether we go to inspect a school or to give a Bible lesson. In this way we reach many who are too timid to come to the dispensary. Wherever we go in the cart, the people come running from the villages, begging us to visit some sick person. By the time we have prescribed for the patient, there is usually a large crowd waiting for us at the cart. After treating fifteen or twenty more, and giving a Bible lesson, we pass on.

Recently we were called to attend the wife of an Indian rajah (a prince) who was here for a change. On our first visit we were informed that the rajah and his wife were orthodox Hindus, which meant that every ceremony must be observed. After a few visits, however, we were told that we need not announce our arrival, but could come and go as we liked. The women were also allowed to call on us, and we held a lantern lecture with the women of the zenana.

MR. AND MRS. R. H. LEECH. West Bengal.