233
PUNJAB FRONTIER FORCE.
the lowest 42° in December. Owing to the very heavy and long continued rain fall, there were
not as many hot days in the summer months as usual. In 1874, a temperature of 86° was
registered in May, and 80° was not an uncommon reading in the same month.
The cold weather in the Khasia hills—viz., from October to the end of March—is dry and
bracing. Frost lies on the ground almost every morning from the middle of November to the
end of February. The thermometer in the grass before sunrise frequently falls as low as 24° Fahr.,
and shallow water freezes over, but snow never falls there. The most unpleasant feature of the
cold weather here is the clouding over of the sky, which takes place nearly every afternoon
about 3 o'clock. The clouds last during a portion of the evening; disperse again at 7 or
8 o ' c l o c k , l e a v i n g t h e s k y p e r f e c t l y b r i g h t a n d c l e a r . E n g l i s h c h i l d r e n t h r i v e r e m a r k a b l y i n t h i s
climate, but adults do not get on so well. Troublesome diarrhœa, often approaching the
nature of dysentery, is a very common complaint amongst the European residents.
V. Lines, &c.—No change of importance was made in any of the lines occupied by the
regiment during the year. The huts in Shillong were kept in a state of thorough repair, and
many were greatly improved by the addition of small porticos before the doors. The huts at
Jowai were in a state of good repair when I visited the outpost in December. The fort itself
(vide last year's report for a full description of this building) and the hospital were not in an
equally satisfactory condition. A report on the subject was duly submitted to the com-
manding officer.
VI Drainage.—As s t a t e d i n l a s t y e a r ' s r é p o r t , t h e n a t u r a l d r a i n a g e o f S h i l l o n g i s e x c e l l e n t .
No change of any kind took place during the year. The drainage at Jowai is also good. The
fort and lines stand on a hill. A piece of swampy ground at the foot of this hill was dammed
up at one end and converted into a tank a few years ago. With the exception of this piece of
water, the ground near the fort is quite dry.
Lines, &c.
Drainage.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. — T h e
c o n s e r v a n c y a t S h i l l o n g a n d J o w a i h a s b e e n f u l l y
described in last year's report, and there has not been any change of importance since then.
The trench system of latrines continues in force to a certain extent at one end of the lines,
where a movable covered latrine screen has been provided. The system is not, however, in much
favour. The men prefer, as previously stated, to resort to the jungle, of which there is a wide
extent at the back of the lines. As there are no habitations in the vicinity, and as the water
flows away from the station in that direction, the practice was not found to be productive of
danger or nuisance of any kind. Running sentries have been placed, on my recommendation,
near certain places within the cantonment limits, to which men were in the habit of resort
- i n g , a n d t h e r e b y e n d a n g e r i n g t h e p u r i t y o f t h e w a t e r - s u p p l y .
The hospital latrines are carefully managed on the dry-earth system. A square piece of
ground, about an acre in extent, near the hospital was fenced in by the dooly-bearers during the
year. The night-soil from the latrine is regularly buried in shallow trenches in this enclosure,
and trenches, sheltered by simple mat screens, are also kept open in it for the use of conval
- e s c e n t s a n d s u c h o f t h e s i c k a s c h o o s e t o u s e t h e m . T h e s e t r e n c h e s a r e i n m u c h f a v o u r , a n d m e n
prefer them to the regular latrine.
VIII. Water-supply. —The w a t e r - s u p p l y o f t h e l i n e s i n S h i l l o n g i s o b t a i n e d m a i n l y f r o m
a perfectly pure hill stream, called the Oom Jaisee. This water is excellent in quality and
abundant in quantity at all times of the year. The water-supply at Jowai was fully described
in last year's report.
Conservancy
and latrines.
Hospital
latrines.
Water-supply.
XI. Diet, &c.—Rations of attah, dhal, ghee and salt were supplied as in the previous year
by the Commissariat Department. They were, as a rule, of fair quality, and few complaints
were made concerning them. The Bazar Committee, consisting of a few native officers, examine
the rations before issue and report on their quality. As stated in last year's report, the present
system of supplying rations is one of unmixed advantage to the men.
There is a large market held in Shillong every eight days, and a smaller one every four
days. Potatoes and other vegetables, and different kinds of fruit, chiefly plantains, are abund
- a n t i n t h e s u m m e r m o n t h s ; b u t i n t h e c o l d w e a t h e r t h e p o t a t o i s t h e o n l y v e g e t a b l e p r o c u r a b l e .
Oranges and limes, however, are very plentiful at this season, and are sold very cheaply.
Meat is scarce and dear here at all times; pigeons and goat's flesh, the meat in most
request amongst the sepoys, selling at a very high price. A pigeon costs 3 annas; milk also
sells at 3 annas a seer, and sometimes cannot be procured even at that price. Under the
circumstances, the dieting of men in hospital becomes often a matter of great difficulty.
The meat in most esteem amongst the hill people (Khasias, &c.) is pork, the flesh of the
village pig. This they consider a great luxury. Few of the sepoys, however, think of using it.
On the whole, the men of this regiment look stout and well-nourished; the physique
of the corps having undergone a remarkable improvement since the regiment has been stationed
at Shillong. The men of the Assam local corps— viz., of the 42nd, 43rd and 44th Regiments—
are comparatively well off. In addition to the ordinary pay of a sepoy, each man receives
Assam batta at the rate of 2-8 a month, Thus a private's pay is Rs. 9–8 a month; out of this,
Rs. 3-8 a month is deducted for his rations, worth at local rates not less than 7 or 8 rupees,
leaving him Rs. 6 to meet all other expenses. There is an excellent market at Jowai every
9 days, and food is more plentiful and cheaper than in Shillong. At the outposts of Chargola
and Allynuggur, food of all kinds is cheap, and game abundant, so that the men can occa
- s i o n a l l y s u p p l e m e n t t h e i r r a t i o n s b y a s l i c e o f v e n i s o n o r o f w i l d p i g .
X. Clothing. —The clothing of the regiment was exactly the same as in previous years.
Woollen clothing is worn all through the year in Shillong. The native or undress clothing
of men in hospital was frequently found to be very scanty.
Diet, &c.
Physique.
Clothing.
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