13
53. In front of each married man's quarters a mud hole was found to
have been dug for a depth of about 8 inches, which was covered, at the time of
my visit, by either a piece of iron or of a broken chattee ; but, on removing this
it was seen that these places had been used as latrines, and that not only by
children, but by adults. In some of these places ashes had been sprinkled over the
night-soil. Proper attention, also, had not been paid to the drains leading from
the nanees, or to the surface-drains, the outlets of which were found to be choked
with rank grass ; and the water had collected, and formed in many cases an offen-
sive pool, which was in process of being gradually absorbed by the earth.
54. On pointing these defects out to Colonel Morris, immediate orders were
given to clean the lines thoroughly ; and as it was foun.d that the permission to
allow children of tender age, who are too young to go to the regimental privies,—
which are at some distance from the lines—had been abused, stringent orders
were given to prevent adults using these places, and strong iron vessels with
handles were ordered to be provided, which are to be sunk in the ground to their
own. depth ; and at daybreak the sweepers will commence the work of emptying
them, when the contents will be placed in larger receptacles, and the latter will
be taken to the filth-pit. The iron vessel will then be placed in the original
position, and will remain uncovered until the orderly officer has satisfied himself
from personal inspection that the sweepers have done their work thoroughly.
The whole of the lines are to be cleaned for the day by 7 A.M. Before leaving
the station I again inspected the lines, and found them in every respect greatly
improved, and I have no doubt the orders Colonel Morris has given will effect
great good.
55. The regimental hospital is on the right flank, and is a good building in
every respect. The hospital privy, where the dry-earth system is carried out, is
not, in my opinion, sufficiently ventilated, as a very bad smell emanated from it
which could be perceived at some distance from it. The pans were perfectly
clean, but the construction is, in my opinion, a wrong one. The regimental
solitary cells are placed in the hospital compound, but have been diverted from
their original purpose, as they are used as cook-rooms and residences. They are
not adapted for either purpose, and require more roof and wall ventilation. The
hospital servants' quarters were, generally speaking, very clean ; but there was a
pool of water near thorn, in the ditch, which was said to have been caused by a
shower of rain on the previous night, though I think there was too much of it to
have been produced by this cause alone. The prickly-pear hedge surrounding
the hospital compound is, I think, objectionable, as it was seen to have afforded
shelter for dirt, &c.; and a babul one, or an open railing, should be substituted for it.
56. The regimental privies, containing accommodation for 80 men and 28
women, are situated between the Kothla and the City walls, and at a distance of 275
feet and 330 feet from the shops where the beef for the City is sold, and have been
built on the standard plan. They were extremely clean, though I think the fouled
water from the cesspit is thrown out on to the ground. It was suggested that
the rank growth of grass near it might have been caused by the drippings from
the night-soil cart : I do not hold this opinion ; and if it were the fact, it would be
evidence of a great carelessness, as there should be no drippings from a night-soil
cart, as all the foul liquid should be poured into it through an iron funnel.
57. The Officers' Lines were, on the whole, fairly kept, though I think a
little more attention should be paid to the removal of dead leaves and cutchra, &c.,
from some of the compounds. The regimental bazaar, which contains 15 shops,
was clean.
58. The Conservancy Establishment is stated to be as under :—8 women
and a cart for the removal of cutchra ; and 12 men, 2 women, and a cart for the
removal of night-soil.
59. The water-supply to the Native Infantry is derived from the Kuper-
wadi Aqueduct, and is very good. There are two dipping-wells—one for sepoys
B 632—d