168
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL,
Fears were entertained that the station would be washed away. The bank is Within about 100
yards from the lines occupied by the 3rd Punjab Infantry, and a little lower down within 10 yards
of the Commissioner's house ; but the energetic steps taken diverted the current till the floods
began to subside. I was only able to visit one outpost, Drabund, about 45 miles due west and
situated beneath the Tukht-i Suleiman (about 12,000 feet high). The fort, as it is called, is
merely a square enclosure, with a Watch-house, and is garrisoned by 25 sowars and 50 bayonets.
The road is over barren plains to within 5 miles of the village of Drabund, where there is dense
cultivation at that time (April) of wheat. There is a perennial stream from the hills, and the
whole country round is irrigated by it. There are no wells, not even in the fort, and the men
complain of the hill-water, though it seemed and tasted good. Close to the village is an old
Sikh fort in ruins, which would hold 2,000 or 3,000 men, built by the Sikhs to command the
pass. Supplies are plentiful and cheap. The men say it is very cold in winter and hot in
summer ; it is not a favourite outpost with them. The hospital-assistant at Manjhi outpost visits
Drabund weekly or oftener if required; but there is very little sickness. Near the village are
large encampments of puvindahs, who yearly come down to trade ; they leave their families
here, and go on with their camels and goods. The country near is much cut up with ravines
and old beds of nullahs. The road crosses the Luni nullah, 16 miles from Dera Ismail
Khan, which empties itself into the Indus below the station, and when in flood its water is
used for irrigation purposes. The other outposts are Zam and Girni; another hospital-
assistant has charge of both. There is little sickness at any of the outposts, but the duties are
heavy, and now the work is monotonous, there having been no raids for a long time.
Meteorology.
IV. Meteorology.—There are no instruments in the hospital for taking observations. The
year has been a great contrast to last year ; much more rainfall, with excessive heat in July,
August being comparatively cool.
Lines, &amp;c. V. Lines, &amp;c.— T h e r e g i m e n t t o o k o v e r t h e o l d l i n e s f r o m t h e 3 r d P u n j a b C a v a l r y . T h e y
are in good repair, and trees are planted along them. They are in good order and clean, and
owing to the number of men on outpost duty, there is ample room.
Drainage.
VI. Drainage.— T h e c o u n t r y i s f l a t , a n d d r a i n s n a t u r a l l y i n t o t h e I n d u s . T h e r a i n f a l l b e i n g
usually slight, there is no stagnant water.
Conservancy
and latrines.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. — T h e r e g i m e n t a l l a t r i n e i s a b o u t 1 5 0 y a r d s f r o m t h e l i n e s ,
and is kept up by the men themselves. Dry earth is used, and the excreta are then mixed With
burnt stable-refuse, and this is carried away as manure. There is no bad smell from it.
Water supply.
VIII. Water-supply.— T h e r e i s a b u n d a n c e o f w a t e r f r o m w e l l s ; a v e r a g e d e p t h a b o u t 1 2 t o
14 feet ; it is good, and no complaints have been made about it. Each well in the lines has a
pucka floor round it and drains to carry off surplus water. Washing clothes, &amp;c., is strictly
f o r b i d d e n .
Duty and
employment.
XI. Duty and employment.—The work is hard, but the men seem to bear it very well.
Number of nights in bed, 3.5 in 7.
Exercise and
amusements.
XII. Exercise and amusements.— The men are allowed to ride out in the evenings, and
usually choose Sunday. There is tent-pegging and lime-cutting. Hockey and foot-ball are
also played.
Marches.
XIII. Marches.—Owing to the great difficulty of obtaining supplies along the frontier
route, the regiment marched along the left bank of the Indus, crossing at the Gujrat ferry,
a few miles from Dera Ghazi Khan. The march occupied 17 days with halts ; the regiment
arriving at Dera Ismail Khan on March 4th. There were no noticeable incidents to record, but
the striking contrast in the nature of the country. On the frontier road there is nothing but a
barren plain, intersected here and there by nullahs, generally dry, but often after rain in the
hills impassable torrents ; while on the left bank the march was through a country densely
cultivated. From Gujrat to Dera Ismail Khan we passed through a succession of wheat fields
extending along the river banks and averaging 6 miles broad. The encamping grounds were
clean and well kept, and supplies of all sorts were abundant and good. The water was also of
fair quality. There were a few slight showers, but not sufficient to prevent marching. Very little
illness occurred, and that of trifling ailments as the sick had all been left behind. The Quetta
detachment marched on 20th March, and arrived here after a very hot march on May 14th.
During their stay in Quetta there was a good deal of sickness among the men, chiefly inter-
mittent fevers of a persistent type, and diarrhœa and dysentery, which in several cases assumed
a chronic form, and on the arrival of the detachment at Jacobabad, several men were sent on
sick leave from these causes.
Hospital.
XIV. Hospital.— T h e r e i s n o s t a n d a r d h o s p i t a l ; t h e p r e s e n t o n e i s a n a t i v e o f f i c e r ' s h o u s e
e n l a r g e d . I t c o n t a i n s s i x s m a l l w a r d s , a n d m a k e s u p 1 8 b e d s . W h e n t h e r e i s a n y e x c e s s o f
sick as usual in autumn, the hospital tents are used and made as comfortable as possible.
Sickness,
mortality an
invaliding.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment
—
Present
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. 409.14
Absent
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
89.74
Total .
. 498.88