237
EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT.
The principal meteorological phenomena of the year were a rather low
average rainfall and an early ceasing of the rains. The mean maximum tem
-perature of the year was higher than had been recorded in the three years
immediately preceding. As in former years, the recruits have been the greatest
sufferers from climatic influences, and, amongst old soldiers, the Sikhs.
Meteorology
V. Lines, &c.—There has been no change in the lines during the year. In conse-
quence of there being nearly half the regiment absent for the greater part of the year,
there was nothing like over-crowding. The huts are small and dark, but they have been kept
clean and in good order. The through-and-through ventilation is good, and the surface
drainage excellent in the lines themselves, as they are elevated in a slight degree above the
surrounding swamps.
Lines.
V.I. Drainage.—There is no natural drainage from this hollow in which the station is
situated. The artificial drainage is as imperfect as can well be conceived—very excellent
and pretty to look at, but on examination only found to run from swamp to swamp, each
of the swamps being a mass of decaying vegetables, and in many cases animal débris. As
before observed, the mere surface drainage of the lines is very good indeed, but from the months
of April to October, the river drainage from this leads nowhere; and it can hardly be other
-wise, the station being absolutely lower than the high flood level of the river.
Drainage.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—With the exception of the hospital latrines, which are on
the dry-earth system, there is no system in force in Gauhati, trench or otherwise. The men,
living in a small station with a large extent of jungle close by, naturally resort there. There
is in cantonments only one small portion of ground at all available for the trench system,
and that would soon be exhausted; and as for the fixed system, there is no carriage at
the disposal of the military authorities for removal of night-soil. Granting that any system
of latrines is better than none, and that the present system is unsanitary, still, no matter what
method was adopted for the sepoys, it would have no effect on the surroundings of the station
of any sort or kind whatsoever; the reason being that the sepoys form but a small part
of the population of Gauhati, all of whom resort to the jungle. The conservancy of the
lines is well kept up, and a man is specially appointed to look after the cleanliness of the
station. There are also sanitary inspections of the lines and bazar weekly by the quartermaster
and medical officer.
Conservancy
and latrines.
VIII. Water-supply.—Hitherto the supply, at least for the past two years, has been
derived from the Bramapootra. The water is good, i. e., free from dissolved impurities, and the
supply, of course, unlimited. There is, however, this difficulty with regard to it, that it is at a
distance of three-fourths of a mile from the lines. It is also during the rainy months loaded
with suspended impurities, both mineral and organic, and, without purification of some sort, is
decidedly injurious. It was therefore considered advisable to try to obtain water which might
be both nearer to the lines (so as more especially to prevent the temptation of using tank water)
and free to a greater or less extent from the faults of the river water. It was decided to
build two pucka wells, and these are now in course of construction.
Water-supply.
IX. Diet.—Rations are issued weekly by the Commissariat Department, the men
receiving attah or rice at their pleasure. The system has been described at length in former
reports; to me it seems to work well, and none of the men can be said to be under-fed.
There are some men who under no system will feed themselves properly, but the main
portion of the regiment is well fed; and fruit and vegetables are cheap and plentiful in
the bazars. Many of the men are meat-eaters; and goats, jungle pigs and wild animals of
different kinds are consumed with relish and advantage.
X. Clothing.—This is the usual costume of the sepoy in India, but of the rifle-green
colour. In the hot months white drill is worn. I doubt if this is the best for the Assam
stations. A thin serge would, I believe, be much better for this damp climate, or flannel of some
kind; but unfortunately it is neither so cleanly nor so durable as the drill, and would come much
more expensive to the men. As a rule, the native clothes worn by the men off duty is very suit
-able, and care is taken that all the men are properly provided with the regulation articles. They
are all provided with the regulation ammunition boot, and when worn with a stocking, little
can be said against it. Without stockings, or at all events a "patti," it is apt to gall. It is
a little too high at the ankles, and a good many of the ulcers returned are due to this cause.
During the Duffla expedition a service boot of what is called the "stable pattern" had been
served out to the men. This was lower at the ankle, and as the men all wore bandages instead
of garters, galled feet and ankles were almost unknown, though the marches at times were long
and severe. The men of the 42nd all wear the pugree, which has the advantage of both
appearance and usefulness.
Clothing.
XI. Duty and employment.—This has never been excessive, consisting of the ordinary
station duties, drills, parades, &c. The average number of nights in bed were:—
Diet.
Duty and
employment.
Gauhati=6⅛; Tezpur=7⅔ ; Nowgong=51/5
During the campaigns in the beginning of the year, the duty was at times of a heavier
character, but the men were in such good health that they did not suffer.
XIII. Marches and service.— A s
t h e t w o c a m p a i g n s i n w h i c h t h e r e g i m e n t t o o k p a r t
in the beginning of the year are described at length in the special reports on the subject, it is
needless to enter into them very fully here. The chief difficulties that had to be encountered
were the great amount of rain and the hilly nature of the country. The wet weather in the
D u f f l a h i l l s , c o m b i n e d , a s i t w a s , w i t h a t o l e r a b l y l o n g s t a y a t d i f f e r e n t t i m e s i n a t h i c k j u n g l e ,
Marches and
service.
K 2