148
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Topography, &c.
Meteorology,
and climate.
Diet.
Clothing.
Marches an
d service.
III. Topography, & c.—The regiment is now encamped at Fort Azim Khan or Koorum, in
the Koorum valley, about 110 miles west-north-west of Kohat, at 33°40' north latitude, 70°10'
east longitude, and 4,800 feet above the sea. The Koorum valley, so called from the river of
the same name, which flows through its entire length, may be roughly estimated at about 70
miles in length, from Thull, the border village in British territory on the banks of the Koorum,
to the foot of the Peiwar range of mountains, a southern offshoot from the Safed Koh. From
Thull the valley first takes a north-west direction for some 20 miles, and is narrow, being little
else than the river and mountain ranges lining its banks; it then takes a more westerly course
to its termination, and becomes more open till at Fort Koorum; and thence to the foot of the
Peiwar Range, 18 miles distant, it is some 10 miles broad from the slopes of the Safed Koh on
the north, to the River Koorum on the south of the valley. The aspect of the valley at Koorum
Fort is that of a vast plain, inclosed on all sides except the east by hills. The magnificent
range of the Safed Koh shuts it in on the north, while the lesser ranges of the Peiwar Khost
and other hills encircle it on the west and south. Numerous villages line the banks of the
Koorum from its entrance into the valley till some 20 miles from Thull; while many are also seen
on the sheltered slopes at the foot of the Safed Koh. The drainage of the valley is from north
to south, and it is intersected by many nullahs conveying the drainage of the Safed Koh to
the Koorum. The soil is a sandy clay, and there are numerous springs at a short depth from
the surface. There is not much scope for cultivation in the lower part of the valley from Thull
upwards for some 20 miles. Thence it is fairly cultivated on both sides of the river, and wher--
ever irrigation is possible, the crops being chiefly rice and Indian-corn. The central, portions
of the valley at its upper end are uncultivated and covered with jungle grass. The absence of
trees, save in the immediate vicinity of villages, gives it a somewhat dreary appearance. It
would also seem exposed to the winds from the Safed Koh, whose sides are for months covered
with snow. Snow is also said to fall in the valley itself, but none has fallen this season. The
inhabitants are almost entirely Mahomedans of the Sheah sect, differing in this respect from
the numerous tribes surrounding them. They seem, as far as we are concerned, a quiet and
well disposed people, but they are not physically so fine a race as their neighbours, the Afridis
o r W u z e r e e s .
IV. Meteorology and climate.— No meteorological records are kept at Abbottabad. There
was no rain during the last three months of the year, and the weather was unusually hot and
sultry during October and November. During the military operations in the Hariah valley
in December, at elevations of 8,000, 9,000, and 10,000 feet, the cold was very intense, the
thermometer standing at 5° near the Shutargurdan Pass. The cold winds were also very
trying, blowing generally from sunset to several hours, after sunrise; but there was no rain or
snow. The climate at this time of the year is dry and invigorating, but the winds are sometimes
bitter and cutting; while owing to the large amount of rice cultivation and consequent irrigation,
the climate at certain seasons is probably damn and malarial.
IX. Diet.— Sugar, condiments, and often meat are obtainable in the regimental bazar.
These with rations amply suffice for healthy nourishment and though the want of fresh
vegetables and absence in variety of food are difficulties incidental to most campaigns, no symp
-toms of scurvy have appeared among the men.
X. Clothing.—At the beginning of the present campaign, each sepoy's baggage was re-
stricted to 20 lbs. in weight, which was unquestionably too little to meet the exigencies of a
rigorous climate at high elevations. But the weight was subsequently increased to 30 lbs. per
man, and Government has liberally provided each sepoy with a blanket, a woollen jersey, and
two pairs of warm socks, so that he is now fully equipped against all contingencies from cold.
As regards the shoeing of the men, each sepoy is provided in his kit with a pair of ammunition
boots (native) and a pair of native shoes, and on the march it is optional with him to wear
either. I believe there is no doubt the men would prefer a well-made English ammunition boot
to any other kind, but the native-made ammunition boots served out to the men shortly before
the regiment marched from Abbottabad were of an inferior manufacture, ill-fitting, and a fertile
sour ce of bl i st er of f eet ; whi l e t he nat i ve shoes t he men had at t he t i me wer e f or t he most par t
new and stiff, and even more galling to the feet than the boots. Forty-seven cases of blister of
feet were admitted into hospital during a period of 32 days the regiment was actually marching,
and this does not include many slight cases of galled feet where the men were allowed to march
quietly with the baggage or otherwise. The greater portion of the above were admitted
during 19 days the regiment was marching from Abbottabad to Thull, as the admissions were
comparatively few during the three weeks the regiment was campaignig in the passes. I
think that a well-made English ammunition boot, with a light sock, would be the most efficient
method of shoeing the men. The sock, in my opinion, would protect the men's feet from badly
f i t t i n g b o o t s .
X I I I . M a r c h e s a n d s e r v i c e . —O
n
the submission of the Jowaki Afridis the regiment re
-
turned to Abbottabad, where it remained till the beginning of October, when it marched to Thull
to join the Koorum Valley Field Force. On the 23rd November, the regiment advanced into the
Koorum valley, and until the 19th December may be said to have been employed on active field
service. The nature of this service was unquestionally severe; the variations of temperature
were trying, while the cold at nights, at elevations of 7,000, 8,000, and 9,000 feet above the sea,
was exceptionally severe. The marches were long and tedious; the intervals between food pro
- t r a c t e d a n d i r r e g u l a r ; t h e p i c q u e t d u t i e s i n e x p o s e d s i t u a t i o n s , o f t e n u n d e r t a k e n b y h u n g r y a n d
tired men, were very trying; while the habits of a Hindoo regiment as to cooking and eating
entailed additional privations on the men. Their food insufficiently cooked, and often hastily