28
SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BOMBAY.
at other times rugged ridges of larger hills break the continuity of this part of the Deccan
table land. In the vicinity of the Bheema, the country is fertile and produces varieties of
luxuriant crops, when the season is propitious. The soil is a deep black loam throughout the
greater extent of the Bheema valley. Along the ridges and higher lands the soil is un-
productive, and the ground so studded with boulders that it hardly admits of cultivation.
In such places, a stunted herbage is only to be found during the rains ; the country is badly
wooded and thus it presents a somewhat sterile appearance, except in the vicinity of the villages
where clumps of trees (mango and tamarind chiefly), and cultivated patches of ground change its
aspect. On the higher lands water can with difficulty be obtained at great expense for cultiva--
tion, and in seasons of great drought, large tracts of productive soil are uncultivated, and
on this account villages have been almost depopulated, the inhabitants emigrating to more
favored localities.
The agricultural produce consists of cereals in common use as articles of food in the Deccan,
including rice, which is cultivated only to a slight extent in the district, dry elevated lands not
suiting its cultivation. Leguminous plants are cultivated extensively for food and oil, and
gum and fodder ; cucurbitaceæ are in great demand in this bazaar, as native vegetables ;
mangoes are largely grown in the vicinity—a few varieties of solanaceæ grow wild—other
vegetables are found, and fruits, grapes, papaws, plantains, custard apple, roselle, oranges, figs,
citron and limes, and guavas.
At the north-eastern extremity of the district, on the right bank of the river Goor is situated
the village of Goornuddeé, containing about 3,000 inhabitants. The ground on which the village
is built is in some places steep and in all places it slopes sufficiently to secure for it a good natural
drainage ; on a rising a little behind the village, the Poona Horse Lines were built many years
ago, at the cost of the Regiment. The river Goor, which gives its name to the village Goor--
nuddeé, rises in Hurrichunder Gher in the Egutpoora range, W. by N., about 60 miles distant,
and receives numerous smaller streams in its course ; at about 6 miles distance it is joined by
a large river, the Roa river—these united streams form the Goor in its subsequent course to
join the Bheema. At and beyond Seroor, for a short distance, the Goor river is confined by
precipitous steep banks ; beyond these points the valley through which the river courses is very
extensive, and many miles wide. It is extensively cultivated, but is less productive than the
B h e e ma v i l l a g e , a n d i n ma n y p l a c e s b a r e r o c k s c r o p u p o n t h e b a n k s a n d i n t h e b e d o f t h e
river. A substantial bridge has recently been erected here, in place of the ferry which formerly
served to maintain transit for passengers and traffic between Poona and Ahmednuggur.
Seroor cantonment, in latitude 18º49', longitude 74º24' is on the high road between Poona and
Ahmednuggur ; and is distant 42 miles from the former and 32 miles from the latter station,
It seems much higher than Poona, probably about 100 feet; a chain of hills rising about 150
feet above the surrounding plain, almost completely encircles Seroor station. The continuity,
however, of the chain is broken about two miles S. W. of Camp, a part of the chain dislocated
from its base seems to have been heaved forwards two miles, leaving an interval which commu-
- n i c a t e s d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e p l a i n . T h e i s o l a t e d h i l l l i e s W . t o E . , i t f o r m s a n u n d u l a t i n g r i d g e ,
rising at its highest point little more than 100 feet above the plain ; from its base the ground
recedes on all sides ; towards the front base of it the Poona Horse lines are seen to rise, whilst
the eastern and southern slopes are occupied by the Officers' compounds and houses. Thus
the cantonment occupies an excellent site, and the natural declivity of the ground is such
that it must secure for it excellent and efficient natural drainage. The ground in camp is
little intersected by water courses, and water (rain) is carried off almost immediately as it falls ;
stagnant putrid water is not found in the vicinity of the lines, and deep trenches in water courses
do not collect organic matter decaying, nor attract people to visit them for purposes of nature.
The cantonment, although surrounded by hills, is higher than the plain in our immediate vicinity
and the extensive village of the Goor. The gap too, thus formed in the hills, admits the
S. W. wind (the prevailing wind) full and unbroken, and leaves it free to permeate all parts