26
MEDTCAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
1. The head-quarters of the Rifles were stationed at Satara until the 14th November 1878,
Location and movement.
on which date they moved out and began the march on poona
via Nagwari, Bhunj, Yellow, Wickvi, and Khed. The sites of
these live camps were well selected. On the march itself the general health of the men
improved, and comparatively few fell out for whom it was necessary to procure carriage on
account of foot soreness arising from badly fitting boots. The Regiment, which for five
years had been broken up in consequence of furnishing detachments of two companies each
to Bombay and Asirgarh, re-assembled in Poona in its entire strength on the 19th
November 1878.
2. The lines erected on the standard plan have their history inscribed in English and
Lines and their surroundings.
Marathi on a marble slab built into the east wall of the
quarter-guard. The inscription runs thus :—" These lines were
built by the 8th Regiment Bombay Native Infantry ; the material being supplied by the
late Govind Rugoonath, Contractor, for 31,000 Rupees. The work was commenced on the
4th November 1874 and finished on the 19th May 1877." The lines stand north and south
on gently undulating ground, which sloping westward, insures their effective drainage into a
large nullah which separates them from the gymkhana cricket ground. The site imme
diately north of the lines, occupied by the 11th Regiment N. I., has been judiciously
selected. The men's huts are exceedingly good, and a great improvement on the miserable
quarters allotted to our sepoys in Satara, which were overcrowded, and in which the
hygienic essentials of cubic space, ventilation, water supply, and proper drainage, were
in a great measure dispensed with. In the present lines, the pendals, eight in number,
consist of four blocks, each of which contains four havildar and eighteen sepoy huts. The
verandahs of the former are considerably larger than those of the latter. The total number
of sepoy huts is 576. The streets are spacious and open to the breeze. The highway, which
runs east and west dividing the quarters of the men of the right and left wings, is 168 feet
broad. An irregular or winding trench traverses its entire length, which if deepened and
faced with masonry would improve the drainage of the monsoon waters, which would then
empty themselves freely by this channel into the nullah above mentioned. The streets run
ing between the pendals are 142 feet broad, and those at right angles running north and
south measure 48 feet 10 inches in breadth. The quarters of the native officers, which stand
detached from the lines, partly surrounded by small gardens, look well, and are said by their
inmates to be comfortable houses. The quarter guard at the east end of the lines is a
substantial stone structure, roomy, well lighted and ventilated. North of the quarter guard
stand the solitary cells, two in number, which have been built on sound sanitary principles.
The same may be said of the school house and the rest of the subsidiary buildings.
3. The regimental system of conservancy has undergone no change since last report,
Conservancy.
which is satisfactory so far as the lines are concerned, but not
as regards the latrines. The sepoys latrine with 56, and the
women's with 24 seats, stand a little to the north-west of the lines. The distance from the
nearest pendal, 250 yards, is immaterial in fair weather, butimpracticable, I should say, during
the monsoon, if men were urgently called to the rear. The dry earth system should be
introduced, which does away with the sickening smell which pervades the immediate neigh-
bourhood of all latrines worked otherwise. Instead of one Regimental latrine common to all,
each company should have one of its own, on ground close at hand, and worked on the dry
earth system. Night and morning the contents of the latrines are carted away in au iron
tank beyond camp limits, and there disposed of. Seven male and two female sweepers is the
strength of the conservancy establishment. In Satara two trench latrines were first intro
duced in 1877. These were distant from the lines 250 yards. The system did not work
well, as there was no proper supervision.
4. In no particular has the Regiment benefitted more by leaving Satara and coming
Water supply..
to poona than in its water supply. In atara the wells in the
lines. four in number, dry up in the hot weather, and the men
have then to go long distances to fetch water,—either from the Ranee's garden half a mile
off, or the river Yena more remote still. The water in Satara, though considered good by
the sepoys, was, according to the Chemical Analyser to Government, and as stated in last
report, only of " fair quality." But in Poona all this is changed, for here the water derived
from the Kurrtickvasla canal is plentiful and wholesome. To the west of the lines and near
the Regimental garden stands the howd or cistern with 36 cocks, whence the water for
daily use is drawn. The cistern holds 30,200 gallons, and is supplied from the Mutha right
bank canal, which comes from lake " Fife." The rainfall in Satara from 1st January to
14th November 1878 amounted to 38 inches and 40 cents, and that of Poona for the twelve
months was registered at 36 inches and 69 cents, a difference only of 1 inch and 71 cents.
5. It was stated in last year's report that in consequence of the scanty rainfall food
Food and clothing.
rose to famine prices. These may still be said to rule in Satara,
and it is doubtful if they will ever fall again to the old or com-