ZENANA MISSION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13131, 2 June 1908, Page 7

ZENANA MISSION.

.' - A TALK WITH MISS FULCHER. Miss Fulcher, who is at present touring New Zealand with tho object of arousing interest in connection with tho Zenana Bible and Medical Mission, gave some interesting particulars to a "Press" representative yesterday concerning the work of the m__*io*_ in India. "Tho mission was founded many years ago by Lady Kinnaird,*' said Miss Fulcher, "and it is the largest mission of its kind in India. It was established for the purpose of giving medical and educational' assistance to the women of India. With this object in view six fully equipped hospitals, in charge of fully qualified lady doctors, have been established, besides fifty-one schools, three widows? homes,. babies' homes, orphanlages for girls, etc. There are 189 native workere, and 160 English mis-ionariea." Continuing, Miss Fulcher said that the orphanages had been considerably taxed, largely owing "to the famine by which many babies had been left without parents or guardians.' These were looked after until they were old enougb to be received at the orphanages, and they stopped there until they wore able to take up work amongst their leas fortunate hro-hera and sisters. '■■*■'.- "The Government," said Mies Fnlch©r, "cannot provid©. adequate medical -_s_-ta«--e for these people, because there is not a sufficient supply of doctors to carry out the "work, and consequently they becoxoo the care of the mission. The natives are at liberty to attend .the native diepena--ries or hospitals, hut they would not think of doing so. The aaokness in India is enormous. We hare league or cholera always, and last year it was announced in Parliament that 1,800,067 people died from plague alone. Wben a native contracts the C-_ea_e. the family immediately look the affected person in a house and clear away, possibly spreading contagion wherever they go." The visitor stated, in -reply to a question, that suttee, or the burning of widows oh the demise of their nnsbands, was almost abolished, bat tbe women would nruch rather be p_t to death in this way than bear the taunts of their relations afterwards. Mia. Fulcher will give an address to-morrow evening in regard to the work of the mission in India.