PESHAWAR DISTRICT.
135
14th (The Aerozepore) Regiment, Native Infantry—Peshawar.
I. Medical Officers. —Surgeon H. Boyd, M.D., has been in medical charge
of the regiment during the
year. Surgeon J. Moran,
M.D., was sent to officiate
during the illness of Surgeon
Boyd from the 10th of De-
cember to the end of the
year. Surgeon S. F. Big-
ger was attached for duty
from December. Surgeons
Daphtery and. Morton Jack
bad charge of the detach-
ments at the Doaba out-
posts. Surgeon Moodie had
charge of the depôt in
Peshawar while the regiment was on service, until 21st February.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT. OF STRENGTH.
Admissions. Deaths. Daily sick.
1873
. Rawal Pindi, April 1872
53.3
1.5
2.1
1874
Ditto
72.5
.87
2.7
1875
. Peshawar, Dec. 1875
63.77
.58
2.65
1876
.
Ditto
.
.
306.18
1.29
5.51
1877
.
Ditto
.
.
228.9
1.44
4.41
Average
.
.
144.93
113
3.50
1878
. Peshawar
.
.
237.32
12.59
6.49
Medical
Dfficers.
II. Location and movements. —The head-quarters of the regiment have been at Peshawar
except when on service, which was from 1st January to 21st February, in the Jowaki campaign
and from 19th November to 18th December with the Peshawar valley column of the army
of Afghanistan.
V.Lines and kuts. —The lines were unfavorably reported on in 1876, and since last year
nothing of any importance has been done to improve them. Without rebuilding them, I do
not see what could be done. The hut flooring is dug out, and is below the level of the intersect-
ing drains and water-courses.
V I I I . W a t e r - s u p p l y .
— T h e
w a t e r - s u p p l y i n
P e s h a w a r s t i l l c o n t i n u e s
a s
b a d a s e v e r ,
t h e
aqueduct not being yet completed. The water during the advance through the Jowak
country was bad, and many suffered from diarrhœa in consequence. The streams from which
the water was taken were polluted by hundreds of dead cattle. The water-supply during the
advance through the Khyber was generally bad. At Ali Musjid it was said to have contained
antimony. It certainly produced spasmodic pain in the stomach, from which several suffered
At Dakka the water was fairly good. It was river water taken from the Kabul River, and ever
precaution was taken to prevent contamination. On the arrival of the regiment on the camping
ground, sentries were placed to oblige the bhisties to get the water from the main stream, am
not from a shallow branch which passed near the camp and which was used for washing
purposes.
Location and
movements.
Lines
and huts.
Water-supply.
IX. Diet and food-supply. —The diet in cantonments has been the same as that already re-
ported. on in 1876. The men were well nourished, and no cases of under-feeding occurred. Rum
has continued to be issued, and in my opinion has, under the existing order limiting the quantity
taken by each man to two ounces, been of great benefit. On service no complaint could be made
of the quality or quantity of the rations ; but as I reported last year there is a want of variety,
and a meat ration is needed when men are exposed to such severe work as the regiment has gone
through during the last two campaigns. Last year the men had 90 hours without shelter, and
they suffered little as they had their food issued the day before it began to rain and were able to
cook it after a fashion. Here for 11 days the men only got one hot meal, the orders being " one
day's rations to be carried in the haversack." Hence the rations for the day was cooked the evening
before, and the men had nothing but cold chuppaties to eat, and naturally ate as little as possible.
Had there been a meat ration then, I firmly believe, our losses would not have been half what
they were. The officers suffered also from the want of fresh vegetables. The General ordered
in December a meat ration on payment, but as the men could then buy meat cheaper from the
neighbouring tribes than from the Commissariat, I do not know that the ration was ever drawn.
The men then, too, had lost heart and said it was " the will of God they should die as the regi-
ment had committed some great sin." My experience of natives is that when they give up
and say they will die, they seldom recover from any illness.
X. Clothing.—The clothing has not been changed since last reported on. On service the
men wore their warm clothing under their khakie coats. English blankets were also issued al
cost price (Bombay) ; a supply of shoes was also carried ; and at Dakka poshteens were issued to all
the men on night duties. Before that the men said they had quite enough clothing and did not
suffer from cold when in camp, but they sometimes felt cold on guard duty at night. The
poshteens were a great boon to them, and were fully appreciated.
XI. Duties.—The duties during the whole year have been very severe. In cantonments, in
consequence of the number of men on detachment, the guards' duties fell very heavily. While
at Shergasha, and on the advance through the Jowaki country, the men got only a small frac-
tion over one night in bed. On the advance through the Khyber to Dakka and at Dakka they
hardly got as much.
Diet and food-
supply.
Clothing.
Duties.