( 4 )
From the Deputy Commissioner of Bassein, to the Commissioner of the Pegu Division,—No. 58-12, dated
the 14th March 1876.
THE REPORT on Lock-hospitals having been forwarded whilst I was on circuit in the
district, was accompanied by no remarks from me, and I therefore now offer the following.
2. In last year's minute on the reports, the Chief Commissioner expressed an opinion
that the working of the Act in this place was not properly attended to, and this opinion
seems to have been founded on the table, which shows the per-centage of prostitutes and
the population of the place.
3. I must submit that this table cannot give any reliable data on which to base such
an opinion, for, of the towns in this province, Bassein, Prome, and Akyab are the only
ones in which there are no Military stationed, and that, if any comparison is to be made, it
must be between these towns alone, and not with those in which an extraordinary number
of males exist.
4. A comparison of these three towns certainly shows Bassein to have a very low
per-centage ; but then, on the other hand, Akyab has an exceedingly high one, and this is
at once accounted for by Dr. Mountjoy's report, in which he states : "This hospital con-
tinues to be very willingly resorted to by the Bengalee women, who, having thoroughly
adopted prostitution as a trade, understand and appreciate," &c. and again: "The only griev-
ance the registered women appear to have is that they should be examined, whilst, according
to their account, so many Burmese women belonging to Akyab, Ramree, and Sandoway
are quite as bad as themselves, and yet escape the trammels of registration.': He here dis-
tinctly admits that the Burmese element of Akyab is difficult of detection, and consequently
escapes. In Bassein we have no Bengalee element, and very little else than Burmese ; the
few Coringa or Madras women in the place live with so-called husbands, and in crowded
lodging-houses, so that it is almost impossible to detect them.
5. Prome certainly shows a large number, nearly all of whom are Burmese ; but it is
highly probable that the large floating population of that place makes the trade so highly
lucrative, that the prostitutes are willing to put up with the inconvenience of supervision.
6. I think that Dr. Baker, in his present report, has fully explained the reasons why
it is so difficult to ascertain those who are really prostitutes, and get them on the register.
For my own part, I have not ceased to use every means in my power to render the working
of the Act effectual.
7. As pointed out by Dr. Baker under statement II., I know that women have pre-
sented themselves, and been put on the register under different names, and it would be
interesting to know whether this may not have happened also at Prome. One prostitute at
least, to my certain knowledge, when brought before me magisterially, gave a different name
each time to herself and father. I would also suggest; that, for purposes of comparison,
returns should be called for of the number of known regular prostitutes in places like Hen-
zada and Pantanau, where there is no registration.
8. The following return shows the number of prosecutions under the Act, and their
result :—
Section of Act under which prosecuted
,
Number of
cases.
Number of
persons
brought to
trial.
A c q i u t t e d
C o n v i c t e d
D i e d , e s c a p e d o r t r a n s f e r r e d .
Section 4 of Act XIV. of 1868
..
..
..
..
..
3
3
2
1
. .
Do. 5
ditto
ditto
..
..
..
..
..
2
2
1
1
..
Do. 11
ditto
ditto
..
..
..
..
..
2
2
. .
2
..
Do. 16
ditto
ditto
..
..
..
..
..
4
5
1
3
1
9. Dr. Baker raises the question as to how long the name of a prostitute should be
kept on the register after she has absconded : I should say—two months.
From the Officiating Town Magistrate, Rangoon, to the Commissioner of the Pegu Division,—No. 6-35,
dated the 8th February 1876.
I HAVE the honour to forward the Civil Surgeon's Report on the Rangoon Lock-hospital
for the year 1875.
The work of registration has gone on satisfactorily during the year, and compares
favourably in every respect with previous years—indeed, were it not for one disturbing
cause noticed below, the improvement this year would have been remarkable.
The number on the rolls at the beginning of the year, the number added during the
year, and the number remaining on the register at the end of the year, are all larger than