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PEGU DIVISION.
From Colonel H. A. BROWNE, B.S.C., Commissioner of the Pegu Division, to the Officiating Secretary to
the Chief Commissioner, British Burma,—No. 31-1B., dated the 22nd March 1880.
I HAVE the honour to submit in original reports as per margin upon the
1 o c k-hospi
tals i n the
Pegu division
for the year
1879.
The hospitals are the same as those reported upon the previous year, viz.,
Rangoon, Thayetmyo, Bassein, Henzada, and Prome. The laws and rules under
which they have been managed are the same as heretofore.
The lock-hospital at Henzada was, under orders contained in General Depart-
ment notification No. 99, dated the 12th March 1879, closed on the 9th April
following. The report of the Medical Officer therefore extends for a period a little
over three months. The Deputy Commissioner of Henzada reports that it is a
matter of regret that the Government should have relaxed its control over pro-
stitutes, as venereal disease has become worse since the hospital was closed.
2. No alteration has been made in the limits of the protected areas to which
t h e lock-hospital rules
apply, except in the town
of Rangoon, where, under
notification No. 390, in the
Home, Revenue, and Agri-
cultural Department, dated
the 10th November 1879, the rules have been extended to all places within a
radius of seven miles from the boundary line of the Rangoon cantonment. This
will now include some of the outlying villages which at present serve as refuges
for diseased women.
From Town Magistrate, Rangoon, No. 10-5, dated 29th January 1880.
„ Deputy Commissioner, Thayetmyo, No. 10-5, dated 28th February 1880.
„
ditto,
Bassein, No. 22-21, dated 11th February 1880.
„
ditto,
Henzada, No.3-37
-53, dated 29th January 1880.
„
ditto,
Prome, dated 26th January 1880.
Area as protected.
Square miles.
Rangoon town ...
...
...
...
22
Thayetmyo
...
...
...
...
196
Henzada
...
...
...
...
2.85
Bassein
...
...
...
. . .
14
Prome
...
...
...
...
9
Population of protected area.
3. The population of the protected area was
No.
Rangoon
.. ..
..
..
..
99,827
Thayetmyo
..
. . . . . .
38,237
..
..
Henzada
..
.. ..
16,469
..
..
Bassein
..
..
..
22,041
..
Prome
..
..
..
..
31,157
Number of prostitutes.
4. The average number of prostitutes on the
register at each place during the past two years was-
1878.
1879.
Rangoon
..
..
..
472·2
467·09
Thayetmyo
..
..
..
24·83
23·6
Bassein
..
..
..
18·7
25·4
Henzada
..
..
..
10·8
13·0
Prome
..
..
30·4
15·6
The number of prostitutes on the register in Rangoon shows a light increase ;
but the number of new registrations decrease considerably,—from 280 in 1878
to 222 in 1879. This falling off, the Superintendent says, " is probably due
" in a great measure to the depression in trade on account of the unsettled
" affairs in Burma preventing immigration."
Regarding the classes registered, the Medical Officer observes :—" There are
" two classes of prostitutes,—1st class for Europeans, and 2nd class for the
" Natives. The native women are chiefly Telingas, there being a few Bengalees
" and some Burmese. The Telinga women are for the most part of the lowest
" type, being broken down and debilitated with disease when they come to Ran-
" goon and seek registration."
The number of prostitutes registered at Bassein exhibits a marked increase
over that of the previous year, whilst at the other stations the numbers are either