REPORT ON THE STATISTICS
OF THE
BRITISH ARMY IN INDIA AND THE NATIVE ARMY AND
JAILS OF BENGAL, TO THE END OF 1876,
AND THE
HISTORY OF EPIDEMIC CHOLERA IN INDIA IN 1875-16.
SECTION I.
GENERAL STATISTICS OF THE BRITISH ARMY OF INDIA, 1871-76.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL STATISTICS OF SICKNESS AND MORTALITY DURING THE SIX YEARS FROM
1871 TO 1876.
THE statistical history of the Army of Bengal. from the mutiny year onwards has been the
subject of various reports submitted to the Government of India, and these up to 1870 have
been incorporated in the Statistical Standard published in 1871.
From 1871 onwards, the returns of the European troops in Madras and Bombay have
also appeared in my annual compilations, and I propose to review the results of the first half of
the decennial period 1871—80 for the Army of India as a body, in anticipation of a more com
plete retrospect, due after the expiry of the ten years.
The Army of India, as represented in our returns, is a body averaging about 58,500 men.
After the close of the trooping season in 1871, the strength
left in India was 57,500, which before October was diminished
by death to 56,951, the minimum reached in the five years.
Before March 1872, the Army was reinforced by 3,000 men,
and the strength was steadily maintained at between 58,000 add 00,000 alt through the period.
In one month only the strength of 60,000 was exceeded; for March 1874 our returns give
60,163,—an excess caused merely by the arrival of fresh troops before the departure of others
leaving India in course of relief. Of the above total, Bengal has maintained an average of
36.500, Madras 11.300, and Bombay 10.700.
The fluctuation in this body from 1871 to 1876 is approximately represented in the follow-
The Strength of the Army of India,
as represented in the statistical re-
turns for the period.
Fluctuation in the Strength of the
Army of India during the six years
1871-76.
ing statement, which. relates only to regiments which. have
passed the year in India, and is not to be critically compared
with the table which follows, in which the strength, deaths,
and invaliding are shown somewhat to exceed the numbers here given :—
Gain and Loss Statement for the Army of India for the six years from 1871 to 1876.
1871.
1872.
1873.
1874,
1875.
Total for the
five years.
A v e r a g e f o r t h e f i v e y e a r .
1876.
Strength at the beginning of
e a c h y e a r —
At head-quarters and on de-
tachment,
.
.
. 55,611 57,627 58,291 58,284
59,102
288,915 57,783 57,478
On staff employment .
.
89
82
91
64
84
410
82
122
In military and other prisons
312
328
342
321
261
1,664
333
412
Total Strength in India to-
wards the commencement
of the year‫٭٭‬
.
.
•
56,012
58,037
58,724 58,669
.
59,547
290,989
58,198
58,012
Increase during the year—
Recruits
.
.
.
.
3.657
4,250
3,451
3,534
2,457
17,370
3,476
3.466
Men enlisted in India during
the year .
.
.
.
161
114
130
111
155
671
134
177
Men re-engaged .
.
.
1,107
592
1,207
1,090
606 4,602)
1 0 , 1 9 8
2,040
2,317
Transfer, received
. .
1,146
1,069
90
944
1.536 5,596
Deserters re-joined
.
.
33
21
23
27
22
126
25
11
TOTAL INCREASE .
6,134
6,046
5,712
5,706
4,776
28,374
5,675
5,971
‫٭‬Corps arriving in the yearly months of the year give their strength on landing in India.