Drainage.
Latrines,
Urinals.
17
PRESIDENCY DISTRICT.
west for half a mile or more, in front of some of the houses in the civil station. There
is only a narrow strip of water between it and the lines, which is daily forded by people crossing
the river. The river is also silting up towards the west of the station, from which side the
current runs, and it is thought by some of the old inhabitants of Dacca that in a few years it
will become a mere stream.
The bit of marshy ground in cantonments, also mentioned in last year's report, was
covered during the hot weather and rains with jungle, so tall and thick, that cows feeding
in it could hardly be seen, A large surface drain has now been dug, which will probably
cause much improvement.
IV. Meteorology and climate.—The rains commenced early, there being frequent heavy thun-
derstorms in May and June, and comparatively little rain after August. The greatest quantity
fell in July, when it rained on 22 days, the amount collected being 18 . 09 inches. The total
amount of rain during the year was 83 .48 inches. being. 9 inches in excess of the previous year.
V. Lines, barracks and huts.— A detailed account of the pucka barracks was given. in
last year's report. The accommodation is ample, and the ventilation good. There has been no
.
overcrowding, and the men's quarters are always clean and sweet. The kutcha huts, 17 in
number, which were occupied on the 21st December 1876 for the first time, have been
occupied throughout the year. They are constructed for five men, but there are seldom or never
more than three men in each hut, so that there is plenty of space per man. There are two doors
to each hut, and, as the doors face one another, there is always free ventilation. Three
companies are always in the pucka barrack, and one in the huts, and a change is made
every month, each company occupying the huts in rotation. There is no verandah to the
barracks, or shade of any kind, consequently the sun beating on them all day makes them
very hot
Meteorology
and climate.
Lines,
barracks and
huts.
The surface drains prevent water from lodging. The latrine arrangements
remain as previously described. The dry-earth system is carefully carried out.
The hospital latrine is too small, and otherwise defective, but the dry-earth
system is scrupulously observed. There are separate urinals for the men, but
both latrine and urinals are 200 yards distant from the barracks
.
V I I I . W a t e r - s u p p l y . —
T h e
water is drawn daily from the midstream of the river Buri-
gunga, which flows by the lines, a boat being kept for the purpose. The supply is of
course endless, but the quality is bad. During the cold season the water is clearer than in
the hot weather and rains, when the river is much swollen by the melting of the snow up-
country, and by the rainfall over a large tract of country. At that time it is extremely thick
and muddy. Filtering is impracticable, as the men have a great objection to it; but they
allow the water to stand for some time after collection, and then drink the upper part after
the solid impurities have subsided. The drainage of the greater part of the town finds its
way into the river above cantonments, and close by the barracks, just on the other side of the
khal, the contents of several cess-pools run down the bank right into the river. The smell
from these is
and the men have frequently complained of it. From the analysis
disgusting,
of the water made by order of the Quarter-Master-General, and included in the annual
sanitary report sent in by the commanding officer, decomposing organic matter is shown
to exist in large quantity, but no other water is available. Water-works will be completed in a
month or two, which will supply the greater part of the city with better water, but unfor-
tunately the pipes do not come near cantonments. I think there is little doubt that the
impurity of the water is the cause of the greater number of cases of dyspepsia, which is so
prevalent among the sepoys, and is also the cause of much of the dysentery and diarrhoea
which occurs.
I X D i e t . —
T h e
m e n o b t a i n t h e i r f o o d f r o m t h e r e g i m e n t a lb
u n n i a h s ,
a n d a r e c o m p e l l e d
to eat a proper quantity daily. The bunniahs' accounts being examined monthly, it is seen
what each man has spent, and so a check is kept on underfeeding. Only one case of scurvy
occurred during the year, in the person of a recruit, who had lately joined from head-
quarters, and he was not allowed any compensation for dearness of provisions until declared
to be cured. The regimental bazar is clean, and there is always a good supply of food of good
quality. I do not think underfeeding exists to any extent, although it is almost impossible
to check it entirely.
Water-supply.
Diet.
X . C l o t h i n g . —
T h e
p u g g a r i
i n t h e 1 0 t h N a t i v e I n f a n t r y i s w o u n d r o u n d a f r a m e m a d e o f
wicker-work. This gives the head-dress a smart and uniform appearance, but it is heavy, and not
always made to fit the head that wears it, The consequence is that it is difficult to keep on at
times, and while the musketry course was being gone through, I frequently noticed that when
a man bent his neck over the rifle in taking aim, his head-dress fell off.
The boots worn are the ordinary ammunition boots, which are hard and unyielding, and
frequently much too large. Nevertheless, there were only four admissions into hospital for
blisters of the feet, or 1·89 per cent. of present strength. If any marches had been made,
the admissions would probably have been larger.
Clothing.
Boots.
The duties in Dacca are light. The men are reported not to indulge in any
exercise or amusements, except wrestling occasionally. The same hospital is in
use. It affords ample and good accommodation, and is kept in good repair. A
verandah would render it cooler. Quarters for the hospital assistant are much
needed.
E
Duties.
Hospital.