10
The corps at Hong-Kong and Singapore were recalled before the expiry of
their tour of duty in these places, and are not to be replaced by other Native
Corps.
15. Drill and duties .—No regiment was sent on field service during the
year, and the duties of the troops, except in some of the larger stations, were
comparatively light. The new running drill proved rather trying for old or
weak men, but otherwise the exercise of drill was rather conducive to health
than otherwise.
16. Recreation and exercises .—In a good many instances vegetable gardens
have been kept up, and with manifest advantage, not only as means of recreation
and exercise, but also as affording wholesome additions to the dietary of the men
and their families. In some corps arrangements for gymnastics have also been
maintained.
17. Guard-room accommodation .—In some of the older buildings the cubical
space is inadequate, and in consequence of this, a few of the men are obliged to
resort to the verandahs. As a rule, most of the guard-rooms are fairly ventilated
and kept clean and in fair repair.
18. Huts and lines .—The huts occupied by Native Soldiers are, as a rule,
quite as good, or even superior to those which men of the same class occupy in
civil life, and the conservancy in native lines is much superior to that which
obtains in most native towns even under municipal control. All excreta and filth
are carefully removed once or oftener daily, and public latrines have generally
been constructed. There are still two great defects in the sanitary arrange
- m e n t s o f n a t i v e l i n e s , w h i c h i t h a s b e e n f o u n d m o s t d i f f i c u l t , i f n o t i m p o s s i b l e , t o
remedy, except at a cost which, in the present state of finances, is almost prohib
-itive. The first of these is the house-latrine system, it being absolutely neces
- s a r y t o a l l o w d o m e s t i c p r i v i e s t o e x i s t i n t h e b a c k y a r d s o f h u t s , a s m a n y
women will not, or cannot from caste scruples, resort to public latrines. As a
rule, these domestic privies are of a very primitive construction, and, even under
the most scrupulous care, cannot fail at times to prove a nuisance or source of
positive danger. As they cannot be dispensed with, the only effectual remedy
would be the construction of a small latrine for each household on a less objec
- t i o n a b l e p l a n , b u t a m e a s u r e l i k e t h i s w o u l d r e q u i r e t o b e c a r r i e d o u t b y
Government as being far beyond the means of the sepoy. The other objec
- t i o n a b l e f e a t u r e i n t h e c o n s e r v a n c y o f t h e n a t i v e l i n e s i s t h e m o s t i m p e r f e c t
means of drainage. As a rule, the drains for storm-water and sewage are simply
shallow trenches in the ground, so that in a short time both the surface and
subsoil get thoroughly saturated with sewage. In some cases V-shaped stone
- d r a i n s a r e b e i n g i n t r o d u c e d , b u t t h e e x p e n s e o f t h o r o u g h d r a i n a g e o n t h i s p l a n
has hitherto precluded its general adoption. In many parts of the country it
would be impossible to procure suitable stones except at enormous expense, and
unfortunately the art of making glazed tiles is not understood by the native
potter. A V or saucer-shaped glazed tile would probably be the kind best suited
for the purpose, and until this can be supplied at a moderate cost, the efficient
drainage of native lines must, I fear, stand in abeyance. New lines for one Native
Corps are under construction at Bangalore on the standard plan, drained by
V-shaped stone-drains. The other native regiment at that station will also be
similarly accommodated, and it is hoped that this is but the commencement of
hutting native troops in better-constructed dwellings, and under better sanitary
arrangements as to provision for removal of sewage.
1 9 .D
i e t.
— A s
a r u l e , f o o d s u p p l i e s w e r e a b u n d a n t a n d m o d e r a t e l y p r i c e d .
20. Water-supply .—The analysis of potable waters in military stations in
this Presidency, including Burmah, was completed at the close of 1872, and
the results have been recorded by the Chemical Examiner in a separate official
publication.
21. Hospitals .—The hospital accommodation, except in a few instances
during the prevalence of dengue, was found ample. The equipment was main
- t a i n e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h r e g u l a t i o n s , a n d t h e b u i l d i n g s g e n e r a l l y k e p t i n g o o d
repair.