CABUL EXPEDITION.
105
the disadvantages of surface water. It is liable to contamination, especially when melting
snow or a shower of rain washes down from the sides of hills all kinds of deleterious matter.
Such surface water is rendered still more injurious during the hot weather when evaporation
is rapid and increased, and water getting concentrated, is charged with a greater proportion
of organic and inorganic and dissolved and suspended impurities. It is on account of this
condition of the water, I believe, that in summer catarrhal diseases of the bowels prevail in
larger numbers.
I have myself made no analysis of the water, but I have no doubt it contains alkaline
and other salts, judging from the thick white efflorescence left on patches of ground where
water has collected and dried up. Along the sides of the nullahs which pass through the
cantonment in various places a thick collection of this saline efflorescence is often noticeable;
chlorides seem to be present in abundance, as a week solution of nitrate of silver produces
milkiness in the water.
Another and more frequent source of contamination of the nullah water is the innate desire
of all the lower classes of the natives of washing themselves in the streams, whenever and
wherever they can do so, observed or unobserved, without the slightest regard as to who
the future user of the water will be. In times of epidemics, and in the case of men affected
with diseases like dysentery, washing themselves in the nullahs after depositing their excreta
close by, such thoughtless and culpable fouling of water assumes a very grave aspect. If the
purposes of irrigation require the nullahs to be kept up, they should be deep and not quite
readily accessible for the purposes of ablution. But by far the best way of storing water to
ensure a perenniel supply is to dig wells in the vicinity of the streams, and thus effectually
stop all chance of fouling.
5. Men draw compensation from Government instead of the rations as per Field Service
Scale. In a station like Quetta, where provisions are procura-
ble, though at advanced prices, the system of compensation is
an advantage, especially as regards atta.
The Commissariat atta from the very nature of the surrounding circumstances is some
- t i m e s v e r y o l d , a n d a l t h o u g h i t m a y n o t b e m o u l d y o r o t h e r w i s e i n j u r i o u s , i t i s o f t e n b i t t e r i s h
and oily to the taste. The sepoy prefers purchasing atta in the bazaar. The water-mills
worked at this station by the natives afford a ready means of obtaining fresh atta. With
regard to the Field Service Scale of rations it may be remarked that condiments will not be
an unwholesome addition to the native scale, whereas occasional issue of meat will counter-
act the deteriorating effects of hard work in a foreign soil. Fruit is abundant in summer,
and is of various kinds, such as mulberries, apricots, peaches, pears, quinces, apples, grapes
of various sorts, pomegranates, almonds, &c. Raddishes, carrots, wild onion and garlic, and a
variety of spinach, maize, barley, and wheat grow abundantly all round. The soil is so fertile
that English vegetables thrive very well. It would doubtless be a very useful recreation
for the men to set up a regimental garden. The soil is rich enough to reward any little labour
or time expended on it. Vegetables are scarce in the bazaar, except in summer, yet, with a
little well-directed labour the men in the Regiment can be supplied with greens at all times
of the year by encouraging the establishment of regimental gardens. The willow, the
poplar, and the dalbergia sissoo grow to a very great height here. Dandelion, varieties of
fragrant lilies, and iris, dill, carraway, peppermint, and a variety of thyme grow wild all
over the valley.
6. The duties have been very heavy during the year. They consisted principally of
guards in the station and escort between Dadur and Kandahar.
Considering the whole regiment as a body, although the num
- b e r o f n i g h t s i n b e d h a v e b e e n s h o w n i n t h e r e t u r n a s 3 . 5 o n a n a v e r a g e t h r o u g h o u t t h e
year—in itself indicative of heavy duty—the guards' duties, which have fallen to the share
of the men at Quetta, have been heavier still. Over a greater portion of the year the num
- b e r h a s b e e n l e s s t h a n t h r e e c o n s e c u t i v e n i g h t s i n b e d a t Q u e t t a . T h e m e n a t K h e l a t h a d
only four nights in bed, which I consider should be the minimum number in cold weather.
The Sindhis and Panjaubis are fond of out-door exercise, such as wrestling and gymnasitc
feats, which they indulge in on holidays. They require encouragement. I have already said
above that regimental gardening will be in a station like Quetta both a lucrative and
desirable amusement.
7. The general health of the Regiment during the year under report has by no means
been an improvement over that of the preceding year. The
admissions and the mortality have been higher. The principal
cause may be found in the very arduous duties the men had to perform in a climate entirely
different from their own in its seasonal changes and severity, not forgetting at the same time
the fact that the Regiment belongs to a place already well noted for its malarial influence.
The physique of the older sepoys, however, is good; that of the recruits and young soldiers is
indifferent, with a few exceptions. Considering that the Regiment has been in Beluchistan
Food supply.
Duties, exercise, and amusements.
General health and physique.
AA