15
These people formerly lived in the most wretched mud hovels with thatched
roofs, of which about 146 are still standing; but an immense improvement
has lately been begun by building blocks of pendalls for their residence, of which
one is already completed and seven, more are to be constructed. There are 30
rooms in each block, and each room is 9' -x 11' The plinths average from ½' to 2' ,
and the height to the ridge is from 11' to 13'. The doorways are 4' to 4½' X 2'
t o 2 ½ . N o w i n d o w s h a v e b e e n p r o v i d e d , a s , I t h i n k , t h e r e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n ;
but there is continuous ridge-ventilation, and openings have been left along the
top of the wall.
56. The natural drainage of the surface is good, as the soil consists of hard
moorum, and slopes towards the south and west. There are 2 latrines on the
west side, one for men of 13 seats, and another for women of 10 seats; whilst the
water-supply is derived from the Lall Bagh well, and from a channel leading from
the Mutha Canal which runs close alongside the boundary wall.
57. I have given the above somewhat full description of the Commissariat
lines, because I think that they may be a source of danger, as I saw filthy rags and
bits of paper thrown over the boundary wall of the canal from these lines. It
was partly the vicinity of these lines and of the filthy Native bazaar beyond that
led me to support the recommendation made by the Cantonment Committee that
the purity of the drinking water of this important Cantonment and of the
city of Poona should be placed beyond suspicion by its being brought in from
Parbutti through iron pipes. Government, however, rejected the proposals of
the Committee; but I am still of opinion that it would be the safest course
to adopt, as from the accompanying tracing, showing the course of the canal
from Parbutti through the Cantonment, it will be seen that it passes, after cross-
ing the Umbhai Nullah, in close proximity to the filthy brick and tile kilns to
which the cutchra from the city and bazaar is taken, and in front of the collec-
tion of tanneries which are situated on the water-shed above its course, and which
emit a fœtid smell which is often extremely disgusting. On entering the Canton-
ment the canal passes alongside the Commissariat lines, inhabited, as they are, by
the lowest classes of Natives, who are exceedingly filthy in their habits; whilst on
the other side of it are the Petty Staff Lines with a row of privies just above it, and
further on it flows through the filthy Sholápur Bazaar, and enters a tunnel
through which it passes under the road until it again enters an open cutting,
and at length reaches the wheel which forces the water up to the filter beds
from which it flows over the Cantonment.
58. It is much to be regretted that there is not sufficient forcing power to
send the filtered water up to the Wanowrie barracks, the consequence being that
the abomination of the bhistie's puckal is still used for conveying it from
the reservoirs to the barracks, cook-houses, &c., &c., in these lines. I am
strongly of opinion, if Government cannot allow the water to be brought in
by pipe from Parbutti, that, at all events, the sides of the canal from the Sun-
kersett Road to the tunnel should be cemented to prevent any fear of soakage
into it, and that the canal itself be arched over—a procedure which would pre-
vent much foreign matter from finding its way into the water, and would prevent
it being fouled by dirt being thrown or blown into it as at present.
59. It only remains for me to notice the military prison for European
soldiers which is situated on the most elevated part of camp above the Wanowrie
hospital. The guard-room at the entrance is an upper-storied building, and the
upper-room is the coolest residence in the whole of Poona. From it a view is
obtained not only of the whole Cantonment, but of the country for miles round,
and one sees with regret that the Cantonment has been placed in its present
position instead of on the far finer site on the other side of the river.
60. There are 2 long blocks of double-tiled buildings, each containing 25
cells, with a broad open verandah in front and behind. The buildings are not
yet completed ; but they are very good in every respect. In fact, a prisoner told