7
and wholesome. Near the houses they have been converted into cesspools, and
it is an unpleasant but a true reflection that the people really wash themselves
with a diluted solution of their own excrement. If these pit privies are done
away, after the lapse of a few years when the annual rain-fall has had time to
wash out the impurities of the sub-soil, the water in the wells may regain its
purity; but the process could not be immediate ; it will take years to effect.
Among the public wells in which the water is potable, I may mention
the Jukani well on the north of the town, the Noochambli well on the south-west,
and the well built by Rao Bahadoor Venkutrao, the father of one of the most
energetic of the Municipal Commissioners, Rao Bahadoor Tirmulrao, and also a
well on the outskirts near the Hubli road, built by Rao Bahadoor Shrinee-
wasrao Hanumunt, the Public Prosecutor. Most of the wells have steps leading
down into them. At the Noochambli well, at the time of my inspection, although
there was a sepoy on guard for the express purpose of preventing the practice, I
saw two individuals washing their mouths on the steps, and the discoloration of
the water close to the steps afforded ample evidence of the dirt that had been
carried into it by the dirty vessel and the dirty feet and hands and the mud.
brought down by the drawers of water. The steps should be closed and the
water should be drawn by a Persian wheel and allowed to flow into a cistern
preferably lined with cast-iron, and be drawn off through brass cocks, as is done
in Ahmedabad. If this suggestion is carried out, a cistern, in the form of a
Maltese Cross, would be found to afford a large surface for drawing water. The
wells with steps are objectionable on every account, and persons using them
are very liable to be attacked with that painful complaint, guinea-worm, and
in my opinion they should not be allowed by Government. If the Persian wheel
cistern arrangement cannot be undertaken, drawing wheels fitted with an iron
chain might be put up all round the well. It would be better that an iron bucket
should be attached to the chain ; but if there should be any objection to its use,
then the people, might be allowed to bring their own metal vessels, which should,
however, not be cleaned at the well itself, but a trough near it might be provided
for this purpose and for the use of cattle. All wells should be paved on the
outside on a slope and a drain should be made to carry away the wastage water,
and they should be covered over.
The principal water-supply is from what is called the Moti Talao,
which is situated to the north of the town and between it and the fort. The
tank is only a storage reservoir. Mr. Robertson has enormously increased the
catchment area for the storm water falling on the hills to the south-west of the
town which now covers an area of 384 acres instead of, as formerly, only 180
acres. The rain water is brought down by cuttings in the soil to the tank.
This was, of course, the best arrangement that could be made to relieve the
immediate and pressing wants of the town ; but it was felt that the water was
liable to be fouled in its transit, and that it was an insufficient supply. Plans
have, therefore, been prepared ; and Mr. Robertson has now a scheme which,
I believe, has gone up for the sanction of the Government of India to make an
embankment across the entrance of the valley between some low hills on the south.
at a higher elevation than the town and to bring in the water under pressure. I
earnestly hope that Government will sanction this scheme, as I regard the
increased supply of good water one of paramount importance.
One of the greatest of the many improvements I saw in Dharwar was
the opening out that Mr. Robertson had effected by making broad roads through-
out the suburbs. There is more gained by this action than greater facilities of
communication, because now it will be possible to make sweeper's passages to
houses which before would not have been feasible. The road-side gutters have
in some places been fitted with V-shaped slabs of smooth stone. This plan,
though not so good as U-shaped drains, is a great improvement over the objec-