41
GWALIOR DISTRICT.
The detachment at Lalitpur has been under the care of Mr. Saunders, the
Civil Surgeon. Third class hospital assistant Sheikh Mahomed Ainoodeen has
been in charge of the detachment at Sipri.
II. Movements .—The regiment has been stationed at Jhansi during the year. The
detachments sent to Lalitpur and to Sipri have been renewed at regular intervals.
YEAR.
STATION.
PER CENT OF STRENGTH.
Admissions.
Deaths.
Daily sick.
1870
Rawal Pindi, February 1868, from Peshawar . . .
199
1.9
5.2
1871
Meean Meer, October 1870 . . .
136.2
1 . 2
4
1872
Ditto,ditto . . .
273.6
1.9
4.3
1873
Ditto,ditto . . .
166.6
2.5
3.07
1874
Jhansi, 9th February 1874 . . .
103.1
1.42
2.75
Average . . .
175.70
1.78
3.86
1875
Jhansi,dittoditto . . .
122.10
. 8 6
3.79
III. Topography .—The country is said to be very poor, and certainly the general appear-
- a n c e o f t h e i n h a b i t a n t s b e a r s w i t n e s s t o t h i s f a c t . T h e s o i l i s l o o s e a n d g r i t t y , a n d a p p e a r s t o
consist of crumbled granite. On all sides small hills, chiefly composed of granite, may be seen;
between them are plains full of ravines and nullas, and, where not cultivated, are covered
with spear grass, jungle-grass, corunda bushes, &c. Here and there, near a village, are
cultivated fields into which the black buck, ravine deer, &c., often come to browse.
The station itself is very open. It is generally on a level with the surrounding country,
so that there is free movement of air through it. Close to the station, and only separated
from the Native Infantry lines by about ¼ mile, is the native city of Jhansi, containing thirty
or forty thousand people under native raj. Outside the city, and about 1½ miles from the station,
is a fair sized tank called Lutchmee Talao. Through the south part of the station winds a
small nulla from north-west to south-east. There are several good roads passing through the
station to Cawnpore, Gwalior, Sipri, Lalitpur and Nowgong. An inferior road leads to the
deserted city of Orcha, situated upon the river Betwa, about 7 miles south-east of Jhansi.
This city is said to have been deserted after a severe sickness or a famine, the date of which
I have not been able to ascertain.
IV. Climate .—Very hot, and perhaps it appears hotter than it really is owing to the rocky,
dried-up look of the country in the hot weather. No observations were made upon the temper
-ature of the air at the regimental hospital, but Dr. G. C. Hall obligingly allowed me to take some
from the records of the new Jhansi dispensary. The highest temperature occurred in June, viz.,
115.9°F. The rainfall amounted to 25.8 cubic inches for the year, being less than usual. The
country is delightful to look at in the rainy season after the universal brown hue gives place
to the green from the revival of the parched vegetation. The cold weather is very pleasant,
although the great difference between the night and day temperatures is much felt.
Detachment.
Movements.
Topography.
Climate.
V. Lines .—The lines are kept clean and are always well drained, because there is a
natural slope which prevents any lodgment of water. Trees are planted between the rows of
huts. The huts are arranged in parallel rows placed east and west, so that the prevailing winds
can move freely along the interspaces.
The huts themselves are not good. They are built too close together and in two rows;
they are disposed at right angles to the prevailing winds, which can, therefore, only blow past
the doorway at each end. The ventilation of these latter is further impeded by a partition wall
completely dividing each hut or barrack into two compartments, holding about six men each.
The floors of the huts are in a great many cases considerably below the level of the
ground outside. From what I have been able to ascertain from the men, I believe the lines
are not roomy enough.
The zenana lines are very bad. The huts are small, badly built, and much too close
together, and, I believe, too few for the number of married men.
I agree with what Surgeon Linton says in last year's report about the inconvenience and
bad consequences of the lines being so near the native city. Venereal disease has again this
year caused many admissions, and in some cases a long loss of' service to Government.
VI. Drainage .—Naturally good.
Lines.
Venereal
disease.
Drainage.
VII. Latrines .—During the year the trench system has been discontinued, because the
Jhansi soil did not deodorize sufficiently, and the result was that the latrine ground became a
nuisance. Some ground, about 13 beegahs, in which latrine trenches had been dug, was culti
-vated, but only a little over one rupee profit was made, owing, it is said, to the want of good
irrigation. Since April, gumlahs and filth receptacles have been used. The excreta are re
-moved from the gumlahs and are put as quickly as possible into the filth receptacle, which
is carted to a place about two miles away, where the contents are buried. This system is a
great improvement. The inhabitants of the bazar are now no longer annoyed by bad smells
Latrines.