( 2 2 )
In para. 37 the soldier is said to meet women in the fields and groves. At para.
69 the hill women are described as having gradually overcome their former dislike to
Europeans. At para. 71 it is recorded that unlicensed intercourse has been unlimited,
and that no soldier will allow a woman in his company to be arrested by a native
policeman.
99. But in addition to this prevalent spirit of desire for selection in regard to
female companionships, the reports contain something of proof that some soldiers are at
times disobedient, and reckless of consequences in regard to sexual intercourse, in an ex-
traordinary degree. Thus, at para. 25, it is said that many soldiers did not know with
whom they had cohabited, being under the influence of drink. At para. 13 it is re-
corded that sexual intercourse was effected in the hospital ward and in the soldiers'
dining-hall ; and that a woman, believed to have been a source of much mischief,
was found in the lines, living in a rum-barrel. These, no doubt, are exceptional cir-
cumstances, but they illustrate faithfully the extreme difficulties with which the man-
agement has to contend, so long as the soldier will not help towards its success. It is
mournful to think it possible that all the labor and care of the medical officer con-
trolling 134 registered women, all the hearty interest, discussions, and schemes for
improved management of the sub-committee, could be in any measure injured or over-
thrown by the presence of a woman actually in the lines and hiding in a rum-barrel.
100. Referring to the reports, it will be found that almost all authorities agree
in considering the year's working to have resulted in failure, and that the cause of
failure has been the intercourse of the soldier with women who are not registered.
The advice tendered for the remedy of this condition is of two kinds :—
First.—The restriction of the soldier's liberty.
Second.— The greater punishment of the women who seek or permit unlicensed
intercourse.
There can be no doubt that it is in these two directions the management should be
helped if success is to be achieved. Something in the direction of curtailing the
soldier's liberty was effected in previous years, especially at Cawnpore, Lucknow, and
Fyzabad. During the year 1878 this curtailment of liberty seems to have been main-
tained only at Lucknow, where at times the city has been placed out of bounds. At
Cawnpore the soldiers of the new regiment were at first allowed to visit the city, and
with evil results. It seems necessary that something should be ruled on this subject.
And more especially, as urged in para. 14, that the hearty co-operation of command-
ing officers, who have great authority to aid the work, should be actively exercised at
all times and under all changes of command. The maximum punishment which may
be awarded to a woman, without license, found guilty of cohabiting with a soldier, is
eight days' imprisonment.
The reports contain much of evidence that this amount of punishment is insuffi-
cient to prevent the evil complained of. I have in previous reports urged an increase
of punishment for these women, and also that the fact of solicitation proved against
a woman may subject her to punishment. But the proposal did not meet with the
favorable consideration of Government. I think there can be no doubt that of the
two measures—restriction of the soldier's liberty, and the increased punishment of
women offenders—the former is most likely to effect good results.
But, until the regimental police arrangements are made efficient to prevent inter-
course of the soldier with unlicensed women in the lines, or in the nalas or groves off
or near cantonments, successful management cannot be expected.
101. The lock-hospitals, without exception, appear to have been well managed
during the year. The registered women have been carefully and regularly examined,
their diseases quickly discovered and cured. They have been orderly and amenable to
treatment. There has been considerably more than the usual amount of disease
amongst these women in 1878.