56
In spite of variations it is obvious that on an average
for the last five years out of every 1000 children .born 185
died within the first year of their birth. The cause—
common to both the Kaliparaj and the Ujaliparaj—is a
rapid succession of births of children lacking vitality and
consequently living short lives. Among other causes of
a high death-rate the following may be mentioned so far
as the Kaliparaj are concerned :
(i) want of cleanliness and insanitary habits, e.g., ab-
sence of a habit of taking daily bath, indifference in
wearing clothes and drinking pure water and the
peculiar construction of their houses ;x
(ii) low quality of food and irregularity in taking the
same, especially when adults go out to urban areas
in search of employment, and
(iii) drink.
So far as the Ujaliparaj are concerned, a special cause
is the custom of neglecting female children. Greater care
is taken in bringing up male children whereas a female
child is looked upon as a burden.
All this discussion leads irresistably to the conclusion
that the health of the people of the village is far from satis-
factory. This explains the fact why an abnormal num-
ber succumbed during the influenza epidemic of 1918. It
also accounts for the frequent attacks of malaria which we
saw during the course of our enquiries.
MIGRATION
We shall now turn our attention to the other factor of
migration. This has two aspects : immigration and emi-
gration.
Immigration : So far as immigration is concerned, with-
in the last 30 years, as we gathered from local sources,
about 57 families immigrated to this village. Some of
1 The peculiarity of their houses is this. There is generally no barrier
between the sleeping room and stable. Consequently the vermin, created
in the dirt of the latter, unfailingly affect their health; -