8
30. The very serious increase in the number of cases that has lately taken
place among the men of the 7th Fusiliers is partly due, I was informed, to the
introduction of some women from Poona, who were not discovered until they had
infected several men ; but I believe these women have now been brought on to the
Register. I am also informed that much illicit intercourse takes place between
the soldiers and women who bring in supplies from the neighbouring villages
who are not of course on the register, and it is said that nothing can be done to
stop this practice unless the roads and country round are patrolled by the Police,
a measure which would be very expensive and might be inoperative. I am also
informed that it has been the practice not to bring on the Register a prostitute
who claims to be the kept mistress of any one particular soldier ; I think this
plea should not be allowed. The successful working of the Act requires very
active measures on the part of the Police, though in a place like Belgaum there
will be always, in my opinion, great difficulties in putting the Act into force, and
it was suggested to me by one of the Commanding Officers that it would be better
that each corps should have its own Lal Bazar, and I am told that this plan
was successfully carried out at Cawnpore. The subject should engage the
earnest attention of the authorities, as the number of men who have been off
duty from this cause is comparatively speaking very large. I also think the
periodical examination of the women should be made once a week, not every
fortnight as now.
31. It would doubtless also for this as well as for many reasons be advis
- a b l e t h a t S h a h p u r b e b o u g h t u p a n d b r o u g h t w i t h i n M u n i c i p a l l i m i t s , b u t I a m
told that such a course is simply impracticable though from a sanitary point of
view it is highly desirable.
32. The native population living in the Officers' lines is said to consist of 458
men, 192 women and 93 children, and the surface conservancy establishment
allowed for this part of the Cantonment consists of 7 carts, 7 road scavengers and
1 halalcore. I am informed that there is a public latrine for the use of these
people, and all the cutchra and nightsoil are taken to the manure yards. The
servants' privies are usually erected in a corner of their master's compounds.
It was found that whilst the solid matter is generally speaking removed, a pool
of offensive fluid is too often left to putrefy in the rear of the privy opening.
33. The under growth of grass and weeds has been, in my opinion, allowed
to grow far too luxuriantly in the Officers' compounds and over the Cantonment
generally. This should, I think, be scrupulously kept cut down throughout the
rainy season. This remark is especially applicable to the Fort.
34. The roads throughout the Cantonment are well made, well swept, and
the roadside gutters are generally speaking, as they should be, kept free from
weeds, though I saw many in which the grass had grown up. It is most im-
portant that all these should be kept clean so as to allow a ready escape for
the surface water.
35. The drinking water supply for the Officers' lines is, I am informed,
principally drawn from a deep well dug in a corner of a quarry near the church.
The water is drawn by a moat and bullocks and except at the end under the
moat the well is covered with wooden planking, but immediately above this
opening trees are growing out of the side of the quarry, and I saw that leaves
had fallen through it into the water. The trees should be removed and never
allowed to grow and the water should be raised by a force pump. The well
yields excellent water which lasts all the year round, though the supply is said
to run rather short during the hot weather. The surface of the quarry is
uneven and covered with rank vegetation and was not clean, whilst the wastage