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to virtue. Assuming that number to be one-third of the total strength, it follows that, as
the scheme worked in 1883, it provided one woman for the requirements of 8 or 9
men— a still irrational proportion, necessitating an excessive promiscuous intercourse
conducive to disease and otherwise objectionable.
88. This continuous decline in the number of registered women seems to point
to an element of pretence, in regard to this endeavour. The scheme, as I understand
it, professes to provide healthy women for the soldiers, to the prevention of their inter-
course with the low-caste women of the country generally, who are often diseased.
And yet the actually recorded and acknowledged provision only reaches to a limit
of one woman for eight soldiers. Indeed, if the facts could be arrived at, I believe
it would be found that, owing to conditions of residence far away from the soldiers,
a large proportion of the registered women are not continuously available. And that
the number of soldiers which one woman would have to accommodate, supposing the
scheme worked to perfection, would become subject of very just complaint. Above
all things, and over and over again it has been repeated, a full supply of registered
women is required for the successful working of the scheme : and yet so little has this
essential been cared for, that now in 1883 their average number is less by 371 than
it was in 1878.
89. In the report for 1882, I strongly urged the advantages likely to result from
bringing as many of the women as possible into rent-free lquarters—accessible only to
the soldiers—and during the year of report something in this direction has been
effected. But the result has not as yet been altogether favourable. At Benares
it is reported (paragraph 41) that few women could be induced to occupy the new
rooms. This is believed (paragraph 43) to have been due to the facts, that the new
rooms were lacking in privacy, all opening into one courtyard— that they were too
pretentious, prostitutes delighting in dark little dens—that residence in the new rooms
precluded companionship with a paramour or fancy-man (paragraph 44), without whose
presence a woman will not keep her name on the register. At Agra it is reported
(paragraph 14) that rent-free accommodation for 60 women has been provided, each
woman's room standing within a separate walled enclosure, and it is hoped that the
results may be advantageous. At Lucknow it is reported (paragraph 22) that free
quarters were granted to the women during the year, but their numbers did not
increase.
90. I think there cannot be a doubt that the registered women would value rent-
free quarters—indeed, that is the result of experience in places other than Benares.
But each woman should have a separate court-yard and be granted a reasonable
liberty in regard to native companionship.
Quite inexpensive places of mud-built walls and tiled roofs, of village character,
best suit the occasion. The great advantages, of the existence of such place, are that
the women can be well managed and easily found for examination, and that the sol-
ders know where to go to so soon as they arrive at the station. Moreover, it is
cus-temary for certain women to attach themselves to a regiment, moving with it as it
marches—a desirable arrangement from a lock hospital point of view—and it is very
suitable for these women to find a recognized resting-place on arrival at a station with
the regiment.
I think perhaps it is a mistake to give this place the grand name of rent-free
quarters, or even to call it brothel or chakla. The registered women's village would
be a better name, and the more it approaches to village character, of separate tene-
ment, tree shade, and water supply, the better. And in this village the women should
be encouraged to settle, as comfortably as may be, with their animals and other neces-
sary appurtenances of a home. Treated with consideration in this way, I think the
women of the scheme would readily consent, perhaps in increasing numbers, to inha-
bit the village and conform to the orders of the Medical Officer.