91
SIND DIVISION OF THE ARMY.
2. The permanent lines at Jacobabad have been described in previous reports. At
Mittri the men are living under canvas, like the other troops
composing the force at that place. For information on the
system of conservancy adopted in camp, the water supply, the quantity and quality of the
food, &c., I beg to refer to my report on the 2nd Sind Horse.
3 . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f c a s e s t r e a t e d d u r i n g t h e y e a r i n t h e r i g h t h a l f o f t h e b a t t e r y
amounted to 228, the majority being cases of malarious fever,
and the next in order of frequency being cases of bowel com
- p l a i n t s , c o n t u s i o n s , u l c e r s , a n d r h e u m a t i c a f f e c t i o n s .
Lines, &c.
Details of treated.
Mortality.
4. There was one casualty in hospital from pneumonia.
5. Thirty-three Men were invalided, chiefly on account of chronic rheumatism and
general debility in men who had been worn out by long service.
6. The remarks in my regimental report, 2nd Sind Horse, with reference to the inade-
quacy of warm clothing when on service in Beloochistan during
the winter, apply equally to the men of this battery.
7. The left half of the battery, 60 strong, left Jacobabad on the 23rd March on escort
duty to Beloochistan, and arrived at Nall on the 19th April, where they encamped until the
12th of May. On the 13th May they left for Khelat, which place they reached on the
23rd May. They remained at Khelat until the 29th July, on which date they marched to Quetta,
where they remained until the 6th of November. They left Quetta on the 7th November, and
returned to Khelat on the 23rd November. Having remained at Khelat about six days they
marched to Mittri, and rejoined the head-quarters on the 10th December.
8. The health of the men suffered considerably at Quetta from attacks of fever and bowel
complaints, so much so that a great number of them still
remain in hospital.
9. The admissions into hospital during the year amounted to 291, of which 144 were
from ague, and 61 from dysentery and diarrhœa, the other most prevalent diseases having
been ulcers, chronic rheumatism, and contusions.
1 0 . T h e r e w a s o n e c a s u a l t y d u r i n g t h e y e a r , f r o m a g u e .
Left Wing H. M.'s 1st Sind Horse.
KHELAT .—In medical charge of Surgeon J. MCCLOGHRY :—Strength 129.7.
The left wing, consisting of 200 sabres, left Jacobabad on the 17th of March for the
purpose of forming part of an escort to the Governor-General's
Agent in Beloochistan. Having marched across Cutchi, it
proceeded through the Mulla Pass to Nall, where it remained for 23 days. From Nall it
left for Khelat, which was reached on the 23rd May. We remained in the Khelat valley,
with the exception of a march to Bhagwana and back, until the 25th of November, when we
started for Kurrachee, where we are at present under canvas. While at Khelat we occupied
three different positions in the valley, one about a mile to the south-east of the city, the
second two miles to its north, and the third halfway between the city and the second.
The valley of Khelat is situated in about 29° 2' N. Lat., and 66° 40' E. Long., with a
height above sea-level of 7,000 feet. Its approximate dimensions are–16 miles from the
Lagani Pass on the north to Teyri bill on the south, the width varying from two to five
miles. It is completely shut in by mountains, all of limestone formation, excepting where
it communicates by means of "nalas" with neighbouring valleys. It is most open to the
west, the direction in which the surplus water makes its way, though the Girani and Leyaret
valleys, to the Lora river. The town and citadel, which are situated in the southern extremity
of the valley, are in an extremely dirty state, the filth of ages being allowed to remain
undisturbed in the thoroughfares, and no attempt whatever at drainage being made. The
population is about 12,000 people, consisting of Brahuis, Dehwars (of Persian origin), Pathans,
and Hindu traders. The soil of the greater portion of the valley is exceedingly fertile, and
contains large quantities of carbonate of lime; it is highly cultivated, chiefly by Dehwars.
Almost all the tilled portion of the land is irrigated, it being divided into terraces for that
purpose. Wheat, barley, Lucerne grass, potatoes, carrots, cucumber, beet root, and tobacco
are largely grown ; while the principal fruits are mulberries, apricots, melons, pears, apples,
quinces, and grapes. The cultivators do not bestow the same care and attention on their
fruit gardens that they do on their field crops, the trees being utterly neglected and allowed
to crowd so much together that the fruits never attain their proper size.
Invaliding.
Clothing.
General health and physique.
Location and movements.