POONA DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
45
H. M.'s 2nd (Prince of Wales' Own) Grenadier Regiment N. I.
BELGAUM.—In medical charge of Surgeon C. T. PETERS, M.D; strength 589.
The head-quarters of the regiment arrived from Aden with the first detachment at Bel
-
gaum on the 10th December 1875, the second detachment on
the 3rd January, the third on the 23rd February; and the
fourth and last detachment on the 25th March, from which time the whole regiment has been
stationed in Belgaum.
Location and movement of corps.
Detachments.
2. There has been no detachment duty performed by this
regiment during the year.
3. The circular belt of hills, by condensing the clouds, helps to increase the rainfall of Bel
-
gaum, which becomes less copious as this belt is crossed, whether
the traveller is going north towards Kohlapur, north-east towards
Kaládgi, or south-east towards Dharwar. But while these hills by such concentration of
rainfall cause luxuriance of vegetation and render the climate more equable than other places
in Western India, they at the same time cause a heavy mist to overhang the cantonment between
sunset and sunrise, and a slight form of malarial fever is present all throughout the year, which
increases when this fog is wafted by the strong easterly winds, especially during November,
December, and January. Coming into Belgaum front Dharwar in the early morning and
looking down from the uplands, the cantonment looks like a vast sea in consequence of this
dense fog.
The annual rainfall this year has been 33.835 inches, being very far below the mean
annual average (52 inches). The largest amount of rain fell
in July-20.125 inches. The showers have been scanty in
August, and there has been a total absence of the October showers, so that the crops have
almost completely failed.
The mean annual temperature is 75.427º F. The mean of this year has been 75.91º.
The maximum temperature was 99º F. on the 19th April, and
the mininum 59º F. on the 29th January, giving an annual range
of 43º. The greatest monthly range was in the month of Match 33º F., and the greatest
daily range was reached on the 16th April, when the maximum temperature was 97º, and
minimum 70º, giving a difference of 27º in the 24 hours.
4. The regiment is occupying the lines formerly in possession of the 6th Native Infantry,
and there have been no alterations (except the enlargement of the
gymnasium) made since Dr. Rogers made his report in 1874. The
lines are well kept by the men, and they are, to a certain extent, protected by plants in front of
the huts. It was, however, considered desirable to check the growth of plantain trees by thin
-ning them, as they were too bushy, and prevented free ventilation of air. The ventilation is
good, and the drainage excellent, as the lines are built on a slope which amounts to about 30
feet from the hospital in front to the nullah, at the rear of the lines, for the right wing ; while the
ground at the rear of the left wing lines is 13 feet higher than the nullah, and thus allows the
water to drain clown eastward to the same nullah. The regimental bazaar is pretty well
kept, except where the milkmen keep their cattle, and their sheds require constant super
-vision. There is a large excavation between the lines of the 14th and that of this regi
-ment, which is filled with water during the monsoon,—the water being used for gar
-dening purposes. There are three or four villages in the neighbourhood of the lines,
besides the large town of Sháhpur, which is about half a mile distant. In all these places
there is very little attention paid to conservancy, and a good many deaths were reported
from cholera in some of these villages during the recent outbreak. The open between
Sháhpur and the lines is used for burial purposes, and part of it for purposes of cremation.
All these bodies are brought from the native State of Sháhpur, and the ground, I believe, belongs
to the native State, but they are in too close proximity to the lines, and must exercise an
injurious influence over them when the wind blows from the south or south-east.
5. There are four latrines—two latrines for men and two for women. Of these the
latrines for the men are provided with 30 seats, and those
for the women with 16 seats each. The male and female
latrines belonging to the right wing appear to have been recently built, and have the nearest
approach to the standard plan; but as the floor and the space in the rear are not flagged
with stone, it is impossible to keep them clean. The sewage water sinks into pits and even at
the best of times emits a strong ammoniacal odour, while at the lowest part of each latrine
the water accumulates to such an extent in a pit that it presents the appearance of a cesspool.
Just before the 6th regiment left this station, several cases of cholera were traced to the
use of water from a well, situated about 17 1/3 yards from the male latrine, the water having
B 1 9 6 — 1 2
Climate.
Rainfall.
Temperature.
Lines.
Conservancy.