Food and clothing.
Duties, exercise, and amuse-
ments , their effects on health.
NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
1. Two squadrons constituted the bead - quarters at Neemuch. Another one goes to
Location and movements.
Nusseerabad and is changed every two years. The whole
Regiment marched in four detachments for Deesa at the end
of the year, where it arrived safely.
2. The system of building in those lines is, as usual, the abominable one of " back to
The lines and. their surround-
ings, present condition, hygienic
and otherwise.
back." Miserably small and low huts, court-yards with private
latrines for high caste families (a very bad system) ; dunghills
formed in consequence, on the flanks, where sweepings are
thrown. All cesspools for bathing water, &c. have been ordered
to be filled in and the water led to trees planted, at my own expense, on the system of
Deputy Surgeon General Wylie, outside the court-yards (vide 3, conservancy). The latrines*
are much too close to the wells. New ones are sanctioned (vide 4, water). The site of the
lines is to east of cantonment. Number of blocks, 10. Aspect north and south. Width of
central and cross streets as follows : one centre street 819 feet, four parallel ones 65 feet, and
six of 21 feet width, not raised on plinths. Ventilation through tiled roof. There are great
differences between the size of the different houses and court-yards. There no verandahs,
but court-yards which measure, on an average, 12 by 11 feet, much too small.
3. Very insufficient. Filth is collected from the houses of married people and thrown
Conservancy.
into a maidan, but not all removed till long after noon.
Private latrines still exist in married people's court-yards.
All cesspools, which still remain, are to be opened up and filled in, after the cholera ceases.
They are now not used, as the water, &c., is diverted to the trees outside. There were no
funds available for planting these. I had to do it myself. Not nearly enough sweepers'
carts nor bullocks are available. Since the old latrines were condemned and removed, two
formerly frequented masonry ones (which are far too close to the wells) have been again
used. I protested against this, and another large one at a proper distance has been sanc-
tioned. When this is done, I recommend that the present ones (close to wells) be bricked
up. In the meanwhile a matted enclosure is used by the soldiers.
Water supply.
4. Good, but old latrines (masonry lately resumed for
use), too close to the wells—50 paces—condemned at my
i ns t i oga t i on ; ot he r s be i ng bui l t .
5. Excellent but clothing too tight, and undress too cold in winter ; a flannel or cotton
quilted jacket, or sleeved-waistcoat, or a " banian" needed.
The men do what they can to supply this deficiency, without
s u c c e s s .
6. Duties not too severe, horse riding, single stick, &c.
&c. keep the men apparently in health.
7. A large new hospital, old Artillery barrack repaired. It is of the following dimen-
Hospital and its immediate
surroundings.
sions :—length of large ward 144, feet, breadth 22, height 16 ;
length of small ward of both sides 144 feet, breadth 10, height
12. It is an excellent building, but a contagious ward is
needed (verandah used at present). As trees were promised I did not plant any, as I did in
the lines, at my own expense; which I regret, as none have been given and the planting
season is past. The staff and details sick are also accommodated here, but another barrack
is being prepared.
8. The general health, though good, has not been quite so good, perhaps, as last year.
General health and physique.
The physique of the men is not the same as it was when they
were recruited in Hindoostan. We do not get in the Deccan
the same class of Mahrattas who formerly made up its armies. The inducements seem to
be less, marauding being impossible, &c. Nevertheless we are improving. We get some
lads now who measure over 34 inches round the chest ; almost all are over 33. The average
height is 5 feet 6 inches. I cannot give the average size round the chest, as the record has been
destroyed in the Adjutant's office. No recruiting is allowed out of the Bombay Presidency, .
not even here in Rajpootana (Neemuch). This seems a pity, for although the quality of the
Mahratta recruit will improve, the very languages of Deesa and Neemuch to them are
unknown; nor can they compare, I fear, with the men of the north in stamina. In weight
they are perhaps better for cavalry. The number of men from the north are about three-
fifths, from the south two-fifths, out of a total strength of about 500. Mussulmans bear the same
proportion, nearly, to Hindoos, viz. two-fifths. But owing to the increase in the prices of
all articles of food, forage, and clothing, &c., the men, in spite of some slight compensation,
have certainly not enough to eat, especially if their family is large. They have to stint
themselves to give the regulated " feed" to their horses.
‫٭‬Old masonry ones lately resumed, as all the others had been condemned.
12 m