Lines and
huts.
Drainage.
Water-supply.
Diet.
85
MEERUT DIVISION.
Extract from Meteorological Register kept at the Head-quarters' Office, Trigonometrical Branch,
Survey of India, Dehra Dun.
Month and year.
Maximum in
air
Minimum in
air.
Mean in air.
Rainfall in
inches.
January 1878 .
. . . - .
. .
67.7
35.0
5 3 . 4
2.70
February ,,
.
. . . . . .
73.5
44.5
59.4
2.21
March
91.0
44.0
68.0
1.26
April
, ,
92.2
50.3
74.6
3.33
May
, ,
92.8
56.0
75.2
4.80
June
, ,
106.5
66.3
87.4
.68
July
, ,
96.0
70.1
82.1
25.49
August
„
. . . . .
. .
90.7
70.8
79.6
27.54
September
.
. . . . . .
8 8 . 7
65.8
79.0
15.05
October „
8 8 . 7
55.0
73.3
.17
November „
. . . . . . .
82.0
4 5 . 5
64.5
...
December , ,
. . . . . . .
7 6 . 0
36.5
57.0
.22
Total.
. . .
. . .
...
83.45
V. Lines and huts.—I consider the style of hut and the principle of arrangement, columns
of separate huts arranged in echelon, a most suitable one permitting as much ventilation and
perflation of air as huts are capable of affording.
VI. Drainage.—All previous reports concur in stating that owing to the natural conflagara-
tion of the ground this is satisfactory, I believe the drainage of the lines was carefully attend-
ed to during the year.
VIII. Water-supply.—The water is brought from a mountain stream, and is carefully
walled over. The supply is sufficient. The water is enjoyed by the men.
IX. Diet.—Scale of shore rations (at Malta and Cyprus) :—
Flour . .
.
. . .
.
. .
. One pound.
Rice
. . . .
.
.
.
.
. Ditto.
Dhal
. . . . . .
.
.
.
. Four ounces.
Ghee
. . . .
. .
. .
. . Two ditto.
Salt
. .
. . . .
.
.
.
. Three-quarter ounce.
Curry-stuff . .
. .
.
.
. .
. Half an ounce.
In addition, the Goorkhas were allowed 8 oz. per man of goat-flesh for two days a week on pay-
ment, or as a free ration to be settled hereafter.
Scale of board-ship rations :—
Flour.
. .
. . .
. One pound and eight ounces.
Dhal, potatoes or onions
. .
. . .
. Four ounces.
Ghee
. .
. . .
. Two ounces.
Salt. . . . . .
. .
.
. One and half ounces,
Garlic
. . .
. . .
. . 1/16 ounce.
Firewood
. . .
. .
. Two pounds.
Turmeric
. .
.
. .
.
. . 2/16 ounce.
Black-pepper
. .
.
.
.
.
.
. 1/ 16 ,,
Chillies. .
. . . . . . .
. 2/16 ,,
Coriander
. . .
. .
.
.
. 2 / 1 6 , ,
Sugar.
.
. . .
. .
. .
. 2 ounces.
In addition, 4 oz. of fresh mutton was allowed every other day for fighting-men only.
X. Clothing.—No change took place in the clothing of the regiment on proceeding to Malta.
When ordered for service to Afghanistan, the regiment was dressed in khaki coats and trowsers ;
warm under-clothing, two warm blankets, besides the extra coat, were allowed to each man. In
addition " poshteens" were issued at the front for the use of sentries and night picquets. The
Blucher boot is worn on cantonment duty. When marching or on service the men were wisely
permitted to wear what they consider most comfortable, and on these occasions I have noticed
that the native shoe seems to be preferred. Notwithstanding this concession, it will be seen that
this. department is responsible for much loss of service, no less than 128 admissions having
taken place during the year from blisters of the feet.
XI. Duty and employment.—While in cantonments duty is not severe and merely routine ;
but from the nature of the services on which the regiment was engaged during the year, no
doubt this heading is accountable for a portion of the excessive sickness from which they
suffered. The nights in bed for all ranks were as under (average during the year):—
Havildar
. . .
.
. .
.
.
.
. . 11.03
Naiks
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
8 . 0 5
Rifle-men . . . . .
.
.
. .
. . 7.93
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
At the end of the year, at Ali Musjid, the average would be only 4 nights.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital is in good repair, and both it and the out-house and quarters Hospital.
are sufficient for all ordinary requirements.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of the regiment
Present
. . . .
. . .
. . . .707.35
Absent
. . . . . . . . .
.
16.36
Total .
723.71
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.