Memoirs of Meredith Worth [‎4v] (8/12)

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the hills. During the season there was plenty of social life, tennis parties
at the Club or at Rulers’ houses and golf on a sporty and rocky nine hole
course.
• The Rajputana States had seldom "been known to cooperate with each
other on any matter so when I was asked to try to obtain details of their
requirements of essential civil supplies and of the yields of the various
crops under cultivation I did not expect to h^ye much success. The Government
of India was anxious to find out whether there were any surpluses of food
grains which could be sent to Bengal or to other areas were sppplies were
short. At first the States were unwilling to release figures of production
or of Supply requirements perhaps besause they were unsure of their accuracy
and perhaps because they did not want to reveal the state of their economy
to their neighbours. However, I was very surprised to find, after a few months,
that they were all willing to cooperate to the full. Unfortunately, as we
began collecting the information, particularly of surplus food grains which
could be sent to relieve the Bengal famine, I was told to return to Bengal to
help with famine relief.
After a short time in Calcutta my health deteriorated and I had to
take 2 months* leave tp recover. I was then posted to Sambalpur as P.A. Orissa
States. There were 26 small States, some under my direct control, others
rule4. by Rajas of varying degrees of incompetence and a few by Rajas who at
leaat made an effort to improve the lot of their subjects. The whole Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
was heavily forested and full of game of all sorts. On the northern border
in Bo^ai State and close to the iron and steel town of^.^Svere large
deposits of iron ore and manganese. In the hills of the same State were two
aboriginal tribes, the Juangs on the summits and the Bhuyians lower down. They
were very shy of strangers and at first vanished from their villages when we
reached them on tour. Soon, however, with the help of copious supplies of their
local hooch friendshipu&s established and I was able to listen to some of the
most amazing rhythms of their drums as the young men and women shuffled in
perfect time in their dances. They had their own tribal customs and laws and
we were careful not to bring them within-the ordinary State regime.
The Ooriya men were a scraggy lot, many suffering from yaws,often
drunk and often beaten by their wives who, surprisingly, were good looking
with excellent figures and obvious good health. Suicide by the men was fairly
common because they were physically unable to meet the demands of their wives.
The difference in the physique of the sexes was so noticeable that I wondered
whether there was a dietary reason. Enquiries, in fact, showed that when the
rice had been harvested the husks were removed by parboiling. The men insisted
on eating only the grains leaving the jelly, which contained the vitamins, to
the women. I was planning a hilarious poster campaign when my health again
broke down in the intense heat and I had to leay'e hurriedly for Baluchistan.
Every Province in India had started to prepare the first 5 year
Development Plan. Preliminary work in Baluchistan had been dome by Hugh
Weightman, the Revenue Commissioner. I was appointed to the new post of
Development Officer in charge of several Government Departments, and was very
fortunate to have the help and guidance of such an able officer. After a short
time I was asked to act temporarily as P.A. Quetta in addition to my other
duties. Almost qiy first task was to organise the celebrations in Quetta for
the victory over Japan .