PRESIDENCY DISTRICT.
13
10th Regiment n ative Infantry, L. K. Battalion—Dacca.
I. Medical Officer.— Surgeon J. C. Fullerton, by whom this report was
compiled, assumed medical charge on the 6th January from Surgeon Duncan,
and remained with the regiment throughout the year.
Medical
Officer.
II. Location and movements. —The regiment was in camp on the maidan, Calcutta, from the
1st to the 6th January. On that date the head-quarters and right wing left for Jalpaiguri,
the left wing remaining behind until the 8th, when it proceeded to Dacca. The journey from
Calcutta to Dacca was performed by rail and steamer. The railway journey occupied the night
of the 8th, and the steamer passage up till the night of the 10th. There have been no move-
ments of the troops made since the last-mentioned date.
III. Topography and physical geography. —The topography and physical geography
of the station and surrounding country has been given in annual reports of other regiments.
IV. Meteorology and climate.— Meteorological observations are not made at the station,
as instruments for the purpose are not supplied. The year was one of the coolest and
pleasantest experienced at Dacca for a long time, so I am informed by old residents of
the place. The climate is very damp, but very equable. The highest temperature recorded
during the hot weather was 98, the lowest 71, and the mean 85.9; and during the cold weather,
the highest was 95, the lowest 50, and the mean 74.1. The total amount of rain that fell
during the year was 74.46, chiefly during the months of July, August and September. The
prevailing winds for the first three months of the year were south and west ; for the second,
south and south-east ; the third, south-east ; and the fourth, north and north-west.
Location and
movements.
Topography
&c., Meteoro-
logy and
climate.
V. Lines, barracks and huts. —The barrack consists of a large pucka three-storied
building, formerly used as a sugar mill. It is situated to the south-west of the station near
the Phul, and 42 yards from the river bank. The ground floor is used by the sepoys for
culinary purposes. The first floor is occupied by E. and F. Companies, and the second by G. and
H. Companies. Ventilation is regulated by means of double rows of windows on either side
of each ward placed opposite one another. Formerly, these windows were immovable ; but this
arrangement has been altered, and they now can be opened and closed as required, so that an
unlimited supply of fresh air may be obtained at any time. The effect of making the
windows movable has been a most satisfactory one; the wards are much cooler, the air pure, and
in no way offensive, which I believe was formerly not the case. The air circulation of the
upper flat is more active than that of the first. The average strength of E. and F. Companies
actually occupying the barracks during the year was 99.65, and the superficial area of the first
floor is 6,837 square feet, and the cubic space 107,377 cubic feet ; calculating from these data,
each man has 68.5 square feet of superficial area, and 1,077 cubic feet of space. In like manner,
G. and H. Companies averaged 108.53 strong, and the superficial area of the upper ward being
7,174 square feet, and the cubic space 118,339 cubic feet, each man had 66 square feet of superfi-
cial area, and 1,090 cubic feet of space. If 10 cubic feet be deducted from the space calculated
above for each man, to allow for the space occupied by himself and bedding, the result will be
as follows : for E. and F. Companies 68.5 superficial area, and 1,067 cubic feet per man ; and
for G. and H. Companies 66 square feet of superficial area, and 1,080 cubic feet per man. Thus
it will be seen that the accommodation in both wards during the year was sufficient, and of a
much superior kind to what native troops usually get. In order to increase the amount of
accommodation for sepoys, 17 new kutcha huts have been recently erected by the Public Works
Department. They are situated behind the barracks, and close to the Dolye Khul : each building
is a square mat hut, with thatched roof, made to accommodate 5 sepoys. The superficial area of
each is 450 square feet, and the cubic space 4,500 cubic feet, or 90 square feet of superficial area,
and 900 cubic feet per man. As the barrack accommodation was sufficient, it was not necessary
to occupy these new quarters until very recently. E. Company occupied them on 21st
December 1876.
The followers' quarters consist of a long kutcha building to the east of cantonments,
separated from the Officers' quarters by the tank. It is made of matting, with thatched
roof. A mud wall about 6 feet in height divides it down the centre from end to end, and
again it is sub-divided into fifteen compartments on either side. These quarters are neither over-
crowded, nor unhealthy, but are not kept so clean as the barracks. They are occupied only
by followers, as there are no married sepoys in the regiment ; at least their wives are not
allowed to accompany them.
Quarters of
camp follow-
ers.
Lines,
barracks and
huts.
VI. Drainage. —The natural drainage in most parts of cantonments is bad, as the ground
is level, and the soil compact. Frequently, in the rains, the surface remains flooded for hours,
the water having to percolate through the hard soil. The only artificial drains in cantonments
are placed in the immediate vicinity of the barracks, hospital, and Officers' quarters. They are
pucka surface drains, kept in good repair, and clean.
Drainage.
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—The conservancy of cantonments is good, and were it
not for the proximity of filthy and thickly-peopled villages, it would be still more perfect.
As has already been stated, one of these villages encroaching on cantonments was taken
over during the year, and the houses and jungle levelled. While this work of destruction was
progressing, the stench from the jungle, which was nothing but a latrine, was very perceptible
at a considerble distance off. The men employed on the work would evidently much rather have
been employed in some other way. Their health did not appear to suffer in the least. The
place is now quite clean and free from smell.
Conservancy
and latrines.