Dr a i na ge
E A S T E R N F R O N T I E R D I S T R I C T .
The average population of the lines during the year, deducting the native officers and
the women and children dwelling in their houses, might be roughly stated as follows :—
Sepoys
6 0 0
Total 944
Women above 12 years
1 8 4
Children
1 6 0
As the men live by day practically in the open air, and as the doors of their huts are
usually open and ventilation ample, we need only consider the night population with reference
to the sufficiency or otherwise of the cubic space. To get the exact night population, we must
deduct-
(a). Average number of men in hospital
2 4 Total 72
(b). Average number absent on night guards,&c
4 8
The night population may thus be set down at 872, or about 9 individuals to each hut.
The breathing space for each individual is, accordingly, something over 560 cubic feet,
sufficient in this climate with fair ventilation at the eaves and through the chinky doors, of
which there are five in each hut, viz., one for each of the compartments into which it is divided.
The divisions are mere thin screens of grass or reed, and occupy little space. The huts were
newly thatched in 1875 and are now in good repair. The huts at the outposts were repaired
during the year.
VI. Drainage.—The natural drainage at Shillong and Jowai is good. Surface drains are
c ut where necessary to carry off rain water. I have not been able to visit the outposts of
Chargola and Alinagar, so I cannot report on the drainage.
VII. Conservancy.—The hospital latrines are managed carefully on the dry-earth system.
The "poudrette" is buried in trenches. Trenches, sheltered by a mat screen, are also open for
the use of convalescents. The "trench system" is in force in the lines. There are now three
movable covered latrine screens placed over trenches at convenient points outside the lines.
They are used to a certain extent and moved as required. A large number of the men resort
to an extensive tract of uncultivated land behind the lines for purposes of nature. As the tract
in question is about an eighth of a mile from the lines, and is completely uninhabited and well
down st r eam f r om t he ' dr i nki ng ghât ' I see no obj ect i on t o t he pr act i ce. I n t he dr y weat her
the excreta deposited decomposes siccâ viâ and causes no offence. In the rains it either gets
buried by beetles, or washed into the soil by the heavy torrents which fall that season. There
are difficulties connected with trench latrines in this station which I did not fully appreciate
until I had been to the Imperial Assemblage at Delhi and noted the great difference between
the soil up-country and here. There we had a most perfect system of trench latrines in our
(the Assam) camp. The soil was light and sandy, and perfectly dry for 2 feet—the depth of
the trenches. In Shillong the soil is composed of stiff, tenacious yellow clay. In the cold
weather it is dry and lumpy: in the rains it is stiff, cuts like soap, and adheres in large clods.
At Delhi, where the arrangements were perfect and expense not spared, we had 8 mehters to
160 souls: here in Shillong we have 6 line sweepers to attend to the conservancy arrangements
of over 900 people. Under the circumstances, it is, I think, better that some of the men
should retire to the jungle for purposes of nature, and considering the absence of population
in the locality selected, I see no objection to the practice.
VIII. Wate-supply. The water-supply is obtained for the most part from hillstreams, and
is pure and abundant. On the outskirts of the lines there are two or three small tanks and a
well, most useful for furnishing a ready supply of water in case of fire and for washing purpose.
In July, when the first case of enteric fever occurred, inquiries were made, and it was ascertained.
that some of the men, to save themselves the trouble of going to the river, which is a little
way off, were in the habit of getting drinking water from the well. The carelessness of some
natives about drinking water is proverbial, and the Jerwahs of this regiment furnish a remark-
able instance of it. At my request orders were immediately issued by the Commanding
Officer that all men should procure drinking water from the river. I also requested that the
water in the tanks and well should be allowed to drain off, but as there were engineering and
other difficulties to be considered, this recommendation was not carried out. Accordingly we
find that there was another case of enteric fever in August and four in September. The
use of impure water, such as that of the well, was the only probable explanation of the
disease. There are no accumulations of filth anywhere in the lines, no cesspools, so I was
forced to conclude that the well water, rendered impure by surface washings and percolations
from the stagnant tank close by it, had caused the disease. Before next rains I shall ask
either that the well be filled in, or that it be protected by means of a pucka wall from surface
pollutions.
IX. Diet.—The food-supply was fully discussed in last year's report. There has been no
change of any kind since then. The rations supplied by the Commissariat Department were
of good quality. The men, with the exception of a few, rendered cachectic by malarious
disease, are well nourished.
X. Clothing.—The clothing was exactly the same as in previous years. Woollen uniform
is worn throughout the year at this station. I attributed many cases of sickness to the
insufficiency of the undress clothing. In the cold weather, when the men return to their huts
heated by exercise on parade. many of them immediately strip off their uniform and put on
night clothes, which often consist merely of a light cotton jacket and a dhoti. The legs are
quite bare. The majority of the well-to-do saving men have provided themselves with warm
c2
Clothing.