CENTRAL INDIA.
73
Climate.
Climate.—The climate has been as usual mild and equable, and the health of the district
most satisfactory.
W i n d .
Wi nd. — T h e w i n d h a s b e e n w e s t e r l y d u r i n g t h e f i r s t e i g h t m o n t h s o f t h e y e a r , a n d
chiefly easterly during November and December; much as usually the case in this
district.
R a i n - f a l l .
Rain-fall.—The rain-fall has been, as was the case throughout a great extent of India, abnor
-mally heavy. Occasionally, too, heavy and longer sustained in July and August than was com
-patible with the interest of the cultivators; there was a complete break of 20 days, which began
to burn up the somewhat enfeebled crop. This was again followed by the enormous and, in
Rajpootana, wholly unprecedented fall of 22 inches and 60 cents in four days, which devasta
-ted the country, breaking the bunds of almost every tank and reservoir, and deluged the
station of Khairwara, sweeping away the school-house and many minor buildings, and de
-stroying a great part of the crops in the valleys. This brought up the total fall to 48 inches
72 cents, or nearly double an average year's rain for the last 20 years, which has been, up to
last year, estimated as 26 inches.
Lines and
s t a t i o n g e n -
erally.
Lines and station generally.— Disposition of lines. These were fully described in my
report for 1874, together with a brief description of those of the Kotra outpost; and there has
been no change in any particular in either.
Drainage.
Drainage. –The drainage is excellent, owing to a good natural site.
Conservancy
and latrines.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—As reported on for 1874, except that there has been much
less fault to find with the native village, which has been kept very much cleaner than
formerly reported.
W a t e r -
supply.
VIII. Water-supply. —The drinking water from two good masonry wells has been
found, as formerly, to be sweet and pure.
There has existed for many years a great dearth of water for washing and bathing
purposes, and many plans have been formed, and again abandoned, for supplying this
want. An attempt was made, with partial success, in 1873, by making a dam across the little
river. This, however, was not of consolidated masonry, and was completely washed away by
last year's floods. On the other hand, however, these floods have excavated a larger and deeper
pool than any which previously existed, just above the quarter-guard, an excellent situation,
being very near the lines. This will probably last until nearly the end of the hot season,
if not quite.
Diet.
IX. Diet.—There is no occasion for any special remark under this heading. As noted
in former reports, when with his regiment, the Bheel sepoy is by no means given to stint
himself in the same way as the ordinary Hindoo, and grain throughout the year has been
plentiful and cheap—particularly the Bheel staple crop of Indian corn. Whilst away on leave
at his home, however, he shares the poorer diet of his poorer brethren, and is very apt to
return in bad condition and covered with ulcers and skin disease.
Clothing.
X. Clothing.—As in former reports, an attempt was made during the year to introduce
a new boot, as the old one has been frequently reported as a fruitful cause of admission to
hospital. At my request Colonel Gordon wrote to the officer commanding the Deolee force, asking
him to let us have a few pairs of the boot used in that corps for trial. That officer, however,
replied that their pattern could not be recommended either. All that we have been able to do,
therefore, was to endeavour to procure better leather, and to induce the contractors to supply
more sizes of boot. The good effect of these little changes seems to be clearly marked, as
only one man during the year has been admitted for "blistered feet," and there have been
fewer ulcers over heel and instep from the same cause.
Duties and
employment.
XI. Duties and employment.—These have been, as during several years past, at times
very severe. The ordinary duties have been (in part) much the same as those in any other
Native Infantry regiment; the usual guards over two stations, Khairwara and Kotra (includ
-ing in the former a magazine and fort). Much more than the usual number of escorts, as there
is no rail nearer than Ahmedabad, distant 107 miles; and the roads are not oversafe, so that
Government stores, &c., coming from Ahmedabad or Agra require an escort. Two standing
detachments, at Banswarra averaging 21.71, and at Oodeypore averaging 55.02; the usual
parades and exercises (two parades daily during the cold weather), &c.
Emergent
duties.
Emergent duties.—The emergent duties are, as noted in several previous reports, very
heavy for some years past, and 1875 has proved no exception.
Besides the large escorts out with the Commandant, who is ex-officio 1st Assistant
Political Agent for Meywar, with the 2nd-in-Command (ex-officio 2nd Assistant), and the
Assistant Political Agent (all separate), on boundary and other duties, and the escort with
the Political Agent for Meywar when away with the Rana to meet His Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, there have been several large detachments out for lengthened periods on
special duty. Thanks, however, to the hardy and enduring nature of these useful little soldiers,
and also to the year having been remarkably free from sickness, no bad effect has been observed,
and I have had no occasion for any special suggestion or recommendation.
Nights in bed—2.08. This alone shews how heavy the duties have been.
Exercise and
amusements.
XII. Exercise and amusements.—As I noted in last year's report, they have had but little
time on their hands for amusement, and the usual Christmas games which were formerly
kept up, appear to have fallen into disuetude. Of " shikar" there is none in the district,
neither large nor small game.
Msarches
and
service.
XIII. Marches and service. —I have noted under para. 2 the employment of certain
detachments on special duty. As, however, there was no medical officer with them to makeWind.
Nights in bed. T