PUNJAB FRONTIER FORCE.
199
VI. Drainage. The drainage is entirely surface: open drains are made in all directions
through the lines and the station generally; they have a fall towards the river, and. the rainfall
runs off rapidly. They are always kept clean and serviceable.
Drainage.
VII. Conservancy and latrines. There are two latrines to the north of the lines, in which
the dry-earth system is used. It works well and the excreta are removed twice daily to a
distance of a couple of miles.
Conservancy
and latrines.
VIII. Water-supply.— Water is supplied by two wells, and is good and abundant. I
am not aware of any recent analysis. The wells are covered with boards, the water being
drawn through a small square opening. The ground round the mouth of the wells is pucca
masonry; the men bathe near this, and the water used runs off by means of a small drain made
for that purpose; cattle are watered near one of the wells from a pucca trough; clothes are
invariably washed in a stream, an off-shoot, or rather a small channel of the Indus.
Water-supply
IX. Diet.—The men diet themselves, and care is taken that they do so sufficiently.
T h e b a z a r i s c l e a n , i n g o o d o r d e r a n d w e l l s u p p l i e d . T h e p r i c e s , a s a r u l e , a r e m o d e r a t e . T h e
bazar supplies are inspected frequently by the European officers, daily by the native officer of
the day, and at irregular intervals by myself. I have always found everything satisfactory,
and the bunniahs most willing in exhibiting every article they had for sale. Those of the men
who desire meat, can purchase it in the neighbouring city at a reasonable price. No case of
undoubted under-feeding came under my notice, though I suspected it in a few cases. If any
were proved, they would have been brought to the notice of the Commanding Officer, and by
him promptly put an end to.
Diet
X. Clothing.—The men have two suits of uniform clothing: drill for the hot weather,
and cloth for the cold, khaki in color with scarlet facings. They have postheens and great
-coats also during the latter season. They are well clad. They wear native shoes in canton-
ments and on the march, hence the few cases of sore-feet arising from the pressure of shoes.
The trowsers are knieker-bocker and the legs are protected by puttees. The undress clothing
calls for no particular remark.
Clothing
XI. Duty and employment.—The duties are those incidental to a soldier's life. Musketry
p a r a d e s ( r e g i m e n t a l a n d b r i g a d e ) a n d g u a r d s i n c a n t o n m e n t s a n d a c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f s e r v i c e
at the outposts during the year.
Duty and
employment.
XII. Exercise, amusements and occupations. —There is a small gymnasium with horizontal
and parallel bars, a vaulting block and ropes and rings. The men also practise with large
Indian clubs and throw weights. Sometimes a match of wrestling comes off. A stroll in the ci
ty is an unfailing source of amusement.
Exercise,
amusements
and occupa-
tions.
XIII Marches and service —The head-quarters and 350 men marched out to Tonk and and
the Zam outpost on 14th March, had some exercises along with the 3rd Punjab Cavalry, the
2nd Punjab Infantry and No. 3 Punjab Light Field Battery under Brigadier General
Keyes, commanding the Punjab Frontier Force, and all marched back again on the 28th idem.
The men of all arms were very healthy while in camp. All that neighbourhood is excessively
stony, the ground being almost covered with round stones great and small, the vegetation,
omitting a few cultivated spots, being almost entirely limited to a few scrubby trees and bushes,
and here and there some long coarse grass. As we receded from the mountains, the plain
became more fertile and the stones began to be confined to the beds of the water-courses. This
was the first march. The second commenced on 20th October. The head-quarters and 600
men marched on that day to take part in the Imperial Assemblage at Delhi, on 1st January
1877. This was a long march, 545 miles, and it was completed on 16th December. Our camp
at Delhi was situated to the north of the old cantonments, and about 3½ miles from the
Cashmere Gate. It was on an irregular bit of ground, very dusty, but otherwise an admirable
place for a standing camp. We were fortunate in having no rain up to the close of the year.
But had any fallen, our position would have been preferable to that of any other regiment
at the Assemblage, for there were many nullahs through it which showed the direction the
rainfall takes, and we made our drains accordingly. The climate on the march was all that
could be desired; the nights cold, but not excessively so, and the days very pleasant. When
any of the officers went out shooting, some of the men often accompanied them, and enjoyed
the sport immensely. The marches were nearly always short, the average length being not
quite 11 miles, and the duties were not severe.
Marches and service.
XIV. Hospital.—The hospital has been frequently and, I may add, badly reported upon
by successive medical officers. It has been a little improved during the past year by the
removal of the outer verandahs on the north and south sides. The sick of 2nd Sikhs and the
3rd Punjab Light Field Battery only are now treated in it, the sick of the 2nd Punjab Infantry
being treated in two spare barracks in their own lines. There is consequently plenty of room
in it, but it is a dark, dismal building, and not well suited for the treatment of serious
diseases.
Hospital.
XV. Sickness, mortality and invaliding.—Strength of regiment—
Sickness,
mortality and
invaliding.
Present
625.30.
Absent
1 1 3 . 2 4
Total
738.54