MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 13TH OCTOBER 1880, No. 6462.
Guard Room.—Guard-room for the Infantry barracks was simply a space under one of the
bungalows ; the lock-up room was a bamboo enclosure. Cell prisoners were placed in tents.
The barracks were whitewashed once during the year in regular course, and this was repeated
when the cholera outbreak was over.
Ablution Room. —The lavatory was a space on the paved surface underneath a bungalow ;
the drainage carried off by a culvert to a reservoir was taken away daily by hand.
Latrines.— On the dry-earth system, satisfactory.
Water.—Water for drinking purposes is procured from wells within the barrack enclosure
it contains much mineral solids.
Cooking.— The cook-houses are arranged on the native plan, they are not in good repair.
Rations.—Beef is the only meat issued except on two days in each month, when salt beef
or salt pork is issued in lieu. The fresh beef is of very poor quality for four months in the
year—so poor as to be deficient in nourishment. The vegetables are numerous. During May
and June, preserved potatoes were issued in default of fresh ones.
Canteen.—Everything issued w as very good ; a good deal of drunkenness existed.
Amusements.—All the usual kinds of out-of-door amusements could be had; but they were
not much availed of.
Clothing.—In the rains charcoal was used to dry the damp clothing.
Duties.— Of the ordinary kind, not severe. Much sickness occurred during the year, and a
good deal of fatal kind ; cholera, which had been present amongst the native population, attacked
the troops in June and July. Sunstroke was also common and severe. The situation of the
station on the banks of a river probably contributed more to the extension of cholera to the
troops, than any other condition affecting them. To guard against sunstroke, or insolation,
probably three things are wanted : (1) an enormously-increased amount of superficial area in
barracks ; (2) temperance in drink on the part of the men ; (3) the invaliding of every man
having obstructed circulation, from heart, or lung, causes.
TONGHOO.
The troops stationed here were two batteries of Royal Artillery and a detachment of
Infantry.
Tonghoo is 150 miles north-west of Rangoon. The station is on the right bank of the river
Settang, the adjacent country is a fertile alluvial plain, cultivated chiefly in rice, much of it is
submerged in heavy rains, the plain extends thirty miles to the Karen hills in the north-east
and the same distance to the Pegu range on the south-west. There is a small lake three miles
north-west of the station. Tropical fruits and vegetables grown in profusion; in the cold
season, European vegetables can be grown.
Barracks.—Barracks are placed in the centre of the cantonment, which is 258 feet above
sea level and 30 feet above the level of the river ; they consist of two parallel rows of wooden
buildings, each row consisting of ten houses, raised on piles 8 to 10 feet high. Each of the
houses contains one long room, and two smaller ones partly partitioned off at the end, for
non-commissioned officers. The rooms are ventilated by numerous opposite doors and
windows, by ridge openings, and openings near the floors and ceilings. Intended to accom--
modate fifty men, they gave during the year 2,356 cubic feet of space for the men lodged in
them. The interiors were whitewashed during the year ; the outsides were coated with
earth-oil.
The surface of the ground beneath the barracks is paved with brick, and in the cool shelter,
the men have dinner ; it serves as a place for their recreations, and for certain drills. A defect
in the arrangement of the barracks is that they are not placed obliquely to each other. Each
building is 75 feet from the next : the two rows are 150 feet apart.
The surface drainage is good.
Lavatories.—Are reported to be sufficient.
Latrines.—The dry-earth system is imperfectly carried out, owing to the want of a drying
shed for the earth. From defective construction the urinals are objectionable.
Water.—From wells.
Rations.—Fresh beef is always issued except on two days in the month, when salt beef or
salt pork is given. The medical officer of the Infantry detachment reports that the rations—
including in this the vegetables—were excellent and varied. The medical officer of the Royal.
Artillery reports on the contrary that the diet was defective, and that in consequence four
cases of scurvy occurred amongst the men of one battery : this difference may be due to defe
c - t i v e a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r r e g i m e n t a l s u p p l y .
Canteen.—The articles sold were good.
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