(
women ; this is seen in the smaller number of Burmans admitted into hospital,
those few belonging invariably to the lower classes.
These women receive their greatest support from the Kullahs and the ship--
ping, the latter not unfrequently bringing the remains of a gonorrhœa or a syphi-
litic sore into port.
On-the other side may be mentioned cases of sailors and native boatmen who
may contract disease in this port just before sailing who, if Europeans, fall into
the hands of their captains for treatment, or in the case of Burman boatmen seek
relief at other stations : these cases are never heard of. Therefore, in my opi-
-nion, the present statistics of admission is not applicable, and no criterion as to
the proper working of the Act.
The best guide as to the extent of venereal disease in a station is the number
of admi ssi ons i nto the l l ock-hospi tal . Among the regi stered women, even here,
there is a drawback, as unregistered women sometimes spread the disease.
A case of this kind occurred not long ago : the widow of a Police Sergeant infected
another of the force with gonorrhœa. The admissions among the criminal
population of the jail were all traced to Bassein.
IV.—Whether a Cantonment Sub-Committee for exercising special supervision over the rules has existed during
the year, and what officers comprise it.
There is no Sub-Committee. The supervision and working of the Act is with
the Deputy Commissioner.
V.—What special measures have been taken for the control of prostitution, especially for preventing the dangers
arising from unlicensed prostitutes.
There are no special measures introduced. Applications in all cases are
made by the women themselves. The only danger that may arise from unlicensed
prostitution is when they obtain leave to go to another part of the district or province.
In such cases it should be a part of the enactment that they obtain a clean bill-
-of-health previous to granting leave. A case occurred where a prostitute, to evade
hospital, obtained leave and left the station the day before the periodical examin-
ation.
The love of locomotion (without permission) peculiar to this class has been
repeatedly brought to the notice of the authorities with the usual answer ' a b s c o n d e d ; '
to prevent this a policeman is now detailed to watch them on board the different
steamers leaving this port. Two were convicted, particulars given in statement.
Statement showing the convictions and punishments for breaches of the Contagious Diseases Act
in Bassein during the year 1879.
Serial No.
Name of accused.
Section under which
convicted.
Sentence.
Remarks.
1
Mee Khin ..
.. Sections 10 and 11, para. 16 .. Warned.
2
Mee Toke ..
..
Ditto
ditto
.. Fined Rs. 25.
VI.—How far registration has been efficient, to what it extends, and over what area ; any increase or decrease in
numbers as compared with the previous year.
There has been a decided increase in the number added to the register. Last
year 17 were shown as the number that sought registration : this year 36 have
been added to the remaining, and included in the number for the year under
report. Retrospectively, there has been an increase annually, due not to extra
police surveillance in the detection of clandestine prostitution, but to the fact that
most, if not all, of the women belong to the cooly class of Burmans, and are allur-
- e d a t t h e h i g h p r i c e p l a c e d o n t h e i r f a v o u r s , c o u p l e d w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t m o s t o f
them are addicted to opium-smoking—an expensive vice—which can be indulged
in, apparently, only at the expense of their sexual organs. On enquiry I have
elicited that the average income is from Rs. 30 to Rs. 50 per month, the younger
and better-looking booking more than that in the season. This no doubt is the
cause of the increase. I have several times of late heard complaints from the old