163
SIND DISTRICT OF THE ARMY.
have already had small-pox, to come forward for the purpose of being again vaccinated, but
they seem to have an almost insurmountable objection to this ; however, I will do what lies
in my power to further the experiments which are tried now in so many parts of the presi-
dency. Although my experience is very slight upon the subject of these experiments, I think
it will be very difficult, in many cases, to come to a correct conclusion as to the success or
otherwise of the operation in adults, particularly in the case of men, on account of the thick
- n e s s o f t h e s k i n , a s t h e v e s i c l e s a r e n e v e r s o w e l l d e v e l o p e d i n a d u l t s a s t h e y a r e i n c h i l d r e n .
Diet of Sepoys.—The ordinary daily diet of a Mussulman sepoy is the following:—
lbs. oz.
Rice or wheaten flour . . . 1½ 0
Mutton
.
.
. 1
0
Ghee
.
.
. 0
4
Vegetables . . . 1
0
Salt
.
.
. 0 2⅔
Curry Stuff . . . 0
2
Occasionally fish . . .
Do.
fowl
.
.
.
Daily amount of food consumed by a Hindoo sepoy :—
lbs. oz.
Rice or wheaten flour . . . 1½ 0
Dhall
.
.
. 0 8
Ghee
.
.
. 0
4
Vegetables . . . 1
0
Salt
.
.
. 0
2
⅔
Curry Stuff . . . 0 2
Mutton . . . 1
0
Occasionally fish
.
.
.
Do.
fowl
.
.
.
The Hindoo sepoys form about one sixth of the regiment ; there arc very few Brahmins;
and these, of course, abstain from fish and flesh : the remaining portion of the regiment is
made up of Mussulmans. There can be no doubt that the sepoy here is very well off as re
- g a r d s f o o d .
The bazars are well furnished, there being an abundant supply of provisions ; several kinds
of vegetables are to be had and at a very cheap rate at this time of the year ; (in the hot
weather they are scarce and consequently much dearer), such for instance as the rotaloo,
bhenda, moola, bygum, carrot, &c. ; these are brought in from several gardens on the banks of
the Foolali, and may be bought in the market for the low rate of four pounds (4lbs.) for one
anna: potatoes are not grown here to any extent, but are brought from Mulleer, a distance of
nearly eighty miles, so that they are expensive and beyond the reach of the sepoys.
TOPOGRAPHY : Lat. 25.°21'N. ; Long. 68.°12'E.
Upon first entering the station of Haidarabad, especially after the barrenness of Kurrachee,
one is struck by the contrast it presents to the surrounding country which, generally speaking,
is sandy and desolate looking, dotted with cactus bushes, &c., in clusters here and there.
Whereas, upon coming into Haidarabad, the first appearance gives animpressionof fertility and
freshness. A broad avenue of fine, large trees, in parts interlacing each other overhead, runs
from Giddoo Bunder to the town (a distance of about 3 miles), while on either side can be
seen green crops of jowaree and bajree, in their season ; this is the favourite ride or drive,
but there are one or two others equally pretty : these drives and walks, with the exception of
one which runs parallel to the river Indus, intersect a large plantation of trees, principally
babal, which, with others, forms a pleasing variety. These trees are said to have been planted
shortly after the Battle of Meanee, nearly thirty years ago. As the station of Haidarabad is on a
plain, superior to the highest of these trees, they cannot impede the refreshing sea-breeze, for
which this locality is proverbial in the summer-time, making the nights cool and pleasant ; but
I believe, with another medical officer, that the trees, placed as they are to the south-west of
the cantonment, are of great service in absorbing the malaria from the air in its passage
through, thus acting as so many purifiers : the ground which they cover containing many
nullahs, the water of which is stagnant during several months of the year. During the
inundation, a great part of the ground which this plantation covers is under water ; soon after
the river subsides the whole place is overspread with grass, particularly the beds of the
nullahs, &c., upon which some of the cattle of the neighbourhood feed.