MILITARY DEPARTMENT, 18TH MARCH 1890, No. 2026.
11.
The barracks occupied by the Royal Artillery are of older construction and the site is not
so good, but there has been ample accommodation. The Medical officer in charge of station
hospital states that the urinals attached to the Infantry barracks are too close to them and
cause an unpleasant smell, while they are too far for night use.
The hospital has been suited for requirements and its sanitation is described as satis-
factory.
Drainage has not at any time been considered defective. Open masonry drains run round
each barrack block and convey the drainage into iron pipes which carry it a considerable
distance down the hill on which the barracks are situated.
Water has been supplied from wells and has occasionally run short, necessitating its being
drawn from a distance in carts. Surgeon-Major Gormley recommends that the same system
which supplies the town with water should . be also extended to cantonments and barracks.
At Thayetmyo the cells are reported to be damp owing to water lodging in the space
below the arches during the rains.
At Toungoo no quarters are provided for men of the Army Hospital Native Corps.
UPPER BURMA FORCE.
Myingyan and Mandalay Districts.— The general health of the troops in this district has
been indifferent, but at Mandalay the Deputy Surgeon-General reports that there has been a
considerable improvement in the health of the troops compared with the previous year.
The Mandalay district consists of a low flat tract of country lying between the Irrawady
and the Shan Hills, the plain is in many places below the level of the river, the water of which
is kept out by an enormous bund.
The cantonments at Mandalay occupy the site of the old enclosed city and are about two
and a half miles from the river and towards the north-east of the native town. The old palace
is situated in the centre of cantonments. The only elevated portion of ground in the vicinity
is Mandalay hill to the north-east of the town and within 500 yards of cantonments. This hill
consists of gravel rock with a soil of alluvial clay.
The cantonments are about 1¼ miles square and surrounded by a brick wall banked up with
mud, outside the whole runs a moat from 100 to 150 feet wide and from 8 to 10 feet deep.
The native houses which iormerly existed within cantonments have now been almost all removed.
The European Infantry barracks are placed at the north-east corner of the cantonment ;
they are built of teakwood and are raised about 10 feet from the ground. A verandah 12 feet
wide runs round each block, the floors are of pounded clay, sand and gravel. The barrack
buildings are arranged in parallel rows on open ground and have double roofs with ridge venti
- l a t i o n . D o o r s , w i n d o w s a n d r i d g e v e n t i l a t o r s e n s u r e a f r e e s u p p l y o f a i r . T h e r e c r e a t i o n r o o m s
afford ample space. The Artillery barracks are situated outside the palace enclosure and are
reported to be fairly satisfactory.
The hospital consists of three wooden structures arranged en echelon ; they are raised
12 feet from the ground and are connected with each other by covered ways. The ground
floors of two of them are of concrete and contain offices, store-rooms and surgery. They
contain 125 beds ; accommodation has been sufficient, but there are no suitable quarters for
hospital subordinates, and this want has been much felt.
Water has been obtained from the moat. It is conveyed into the moat from the Nanda
lake ; the lake itself is fed by streams which flow into it from the Shan Hills and also by a
branch from the Naddya river. The supply is reported to have been sufficient and of good
quality. From the moat a channel leads into the palace which, together with wells situated
inside the palace enclosure, supplies drinking water to this portion of the cantonment.
On a recent analysis the moat water was found to contain an undue amount of organic
matter ; its use, however, has not been found to produce injurious results. A scheme has been
projected for bringing water from its source by means of pipes through filtering beds and
when realised will-be of great advantage.
The drainage has been natural. Cuttings have been made when required to carry off storm
water which has been found to collect in pools in various directions. Drainage works are now
in progress.
The conservancy of the native town is reported as being at a very low ebb, cleansing
being chiefly performed by packs of dogs, pigs and birds.
Canteens and coffee-shops have been in existence and supplies in them have been satis
- f a c t o r y .
Cooking arrangements have given satisfaction, but the food, consisting chiefly of beef, has
been found monotonous. Mutton has been supplied only once or twice a month, as its price
has been almost prohibitive, but the sick have been supplied with it twice a week.
Bhamo.— This station is situated on the left bank of the Irrawady at an elevation of about
640 feet. It extends for 1½ miles along the bank of the river. The troops have been accom
- m o d a t e d i n t h r e e f o r t s o u t s i d e t h e t o w n , o n e f o r t A t o t h e n o r t h - e a s t , a n o t h e r f o r t B t o t h e
east and the third fort C to the south-east of the town. In the last-mentioned fort the
majority of the garrison have been accommodated. There has been overcrowding at times,