Exercise, &c.
Marches and
service.
158
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Ludhiana and Phillour. The regiment remained in camp near the race-course at Lahore,
until the 26th January, during the stay of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
The regiment arrived at Peshawar on 25th February, and has been quartered in the left
Native Infantry lines there throughout the year.
Detailed Statement of Detachments from Peshawar.
From 3rd March to 2nd April, Michni
89 men.
" 2 n d A p r i l t o 5 t h M a y , A b a z a i
86 "
" 12th ditto to 2nd July, Shabkadar
90 "
" 1st August to 6th September, Cherat 116 "
" 7th September to 5th December, Shabkadar
90 "
" 4th December to 31st December, Michni
89 "
Lines, bar
-racks or huts.
Drainage.
Conservancy.
Water-supply.
Diet.
Clothing.
Duty and
employment.
V. Li nes , bar r acks or hut s .— T h e l i n e s o c c u p i e d b y t h e r e g i m e n t , f o r m e r l y o c c u p i e d b y
th 29th Punjab Native Infantry, are situated on the left flank of cantonments on a somewhat
elevated ridge of land sloping east and west. The huts are constructed of mud; the roofs,
which are now sloping, consist of reeds, matting, straw, and mud. During the past year
several alterations and improvements have been carried out, viz.:—1st.—T h e
w a l l s o f a l l t h e
barracks have been raised 2 feet, thereby giving them a sloping roof. 2 nd.—Most of the par
- t i t i o n w a l l s i n t h e b a r r a c k s a n d v e r a n d a h s h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d , a n d w a r d s h a v e b e e n c o n -
structed to accommodate about 20 men each. 3 rd.—Ventilating openings 10 feet apart have
been put into the roofs of all the huts. 4 th.—During the past year many blocks of houses
and zenana compounds have been demolished, and new streets opened up.
VI. Drainage. —The elevated position of the lines renders the drainage free. The
main drains and water channels connected with them are regularly looked after and kept clean.
VII. Conservancy.—The trench system is carried out by means of screened movable
latrines on wheels, on a piece of ground about 300 yards to the right flank of the lines.
The old regimental latrine in rear of the lines is set apart for night use only; it has been
entirely rebuilt, and is in excellent order. Besides the four urinals described at pages 180 and
181 of the Report for 1873, movable screened urinals have been introduced for each com-
pany, and receptacles have been provided which are emptied into barrels and carted away
daily. The hospital latrine is kept clean and in good order.
VIII. Water-supply. —From the position of the left Native Infantry lines, the water
obtained is necessarily less contaminated than it is in other parts of the station; but pollu-
tions of every conceivable description find a ready access into the open kutcha conduits,
which bring the water into cantonments from the river Bara. The Peshawar water-supply
project (referred to in the Report for 1873, page 183) is now, however, being steadily pushed
forward, and it is expected that the works will be completed in little more than a year from
this date. A supply of good water will then be obtained for the whole city (population about
60,000) and cantonments (population about 20,000) of Peshawar, besides horses, &c.
IX. Diet.—The articles of food are of good quality and are daily inspected. It was
found necessary last year to warn the men and issue orders regarding the practice of under-
feeding; and stoppages to the amount of half a month's pay are made for the company's
bunnias to ensure the consumption of an adequate amount of food. Rum has been supplied
on payment during the cold weather under the usual restrictions.
X. Clothing.—The men were all supplied with poshteens for the cold weather, and they
are at present constantly worn in undress. In cold or damp weather, recruits always turn out
for drill with their poshteens, and also with boots. A uniform pattern of quilted coat is
also used for recruits.
XI. Duty and employment.—The duty at this station, as will be seen from the return of
nights in bed, is very severe. A half battalion at most remain for duty during the cold
weather, one company being stationed at the Doaba outposts, two engaged at musketry, and
upwards of a company being in hospital. Moreover, the regiment furnishes in its turn the
"Peshawar Fort Detachment," a company in strength, besides escorts. The station guard and
orderly duty falls entirely on the small remainder fit for duty, which is harassing. Besides
regimental parades, brigade parades (lasting about 1 hour), for which, as a rule, not more
than 150 men are available, are held (weather permitting) twice a week.
Nights in bed
Peshawar.
Shabkadar.
Michni.
Havildars
5.40
4.00
3.00
N a i k s
4.77
2.00
2.00
Sepoys
4.87
4.00
2.00
XII. Exercise, and amusements.— The men have little leisure for amusements. All the
spare ground in and about the lines is laid out into soldiers' gardens, which are cultivated by
the men, and in which they seem to take much pleasure.
XIII. Marches and service.—The head-quarters of the regiment began its march from
Jullundur to Peshawar on 10th January; the detachments at Ludhiana and Phillour were
conveyed by rail to Lahore, and joined the head-quarters there on the 17th of the same month.
At Lahore the duty consisted chiefly in furnishing guards of honour and in lining the
roadways traversed by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales—duties which were some-
times felt to be rather trying, but with the exception of a slight increase in the admissions81