Amusements,
&c.
Marches and
service.
Moong.
Rajanpur.
Bundirallee.
Shershah.
Mozuffergarh.
136
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Mode of carry-
ing tools.
Duty.
the march through the Bolan Pass, where within 5 miles the Bolan river had to be crossed
sixteen times. The straps worn to fasten on the Pioneer tools are very badly placed, there
being a piece of leather across the upper part of chest to keep the side straps in their places;
consequently all the weight of the shovel or pick rests on this cross-strap: this could easily be
avoided by continuing the shoulder straps to the waist belt in the form of an ordinary trace.
The upward dragging on the waist belt would be counterbalanced by the weight of the
ammunition pouches. The weapon is the short Snider.
XI. Duty.—The regiment for the last two months of the year was on the march. The
duty was not excessive, nights in bed averaging 7.2.
Meeam.
The salt mines.
Shahpur.
Jhang.
Mooltan.
Khubridani.
Water.
Kajawahs and
dandies.
XII. Amusements, &c.—A few of the men are fond of gymnastics.
XIII. Marches and service.— The regiment commenced its march from Jhelum on the
morning of the 9th November for Quetta, crossing the Jhelum river over a bridge-of-boats
to Nauringabad, leaving the grand trunk road. The march to Koohar and the first half of
the march to Moong were along a sandy road, intersected by a number of dry, wide nullahs;
the last part of this march we ascended slightly passing by the field of Chillianwallah, the
monument being seen to the left. Camps were in ploughed fields; water from wells near, not
on the ground. To Moong by this road carts cannot be taken, owing to the badness of the
road, especially in some parts where the Jhelum river has washed into it, making it even diffi-
cult for a camel with a bulky load to travel along. Beyond this, after the junction with
the Guzerat road, it is passable for carts. At Meeam, two marches beyond, we hired some
ekkas and visited the salt mines, which were about 6 miles from Pind Dadun Khan, on the other
side of the river and 9 miles from camp. We got within a mile of the mine on our conveyances,
and after a walk of three-quarters of a mile up-hill, we came across a train. On this we
went some three to four hundred yards through a tunnel, occasionally passing through.
chambers where the men were at work by the light of small, open chirags. The men wear
ga
iters to protect their legs against the splinters of rock which fly about at each stroke of
the pick. The work seems to very hard. We could not judge very well of the ventilation on
account of a mine having just exploded, filling the place with a very nasty smell. Great precau-
tions are taken to prevent smuggling, no man being allowed to leave the place until the gates
along the different galleries are opened. The road beyond this to Shahpur was fair. Camps
generally in ploughed fields; country around low and uninteresting. The road from
Shahpur to Jhang was very bad; attempts at mending are being made by means of throwing
two feet of soft earth into the middle. In dry weather this might be a fair road; but as it
happened to rain a good deal for a few days, it was simply impassable, the regiment often
having to make wide detours. The river Chenab was crossed just before entering Jhang,
which is a small station, having a dâk cart communicating with the Lahore and Mooltan
Railway at Chichewutnee, 67 miles off. Mooltan was reached on the 7th December; camp
small. We were kept here a day longer than we intended on account of the rain. The camp
at Shershah was very low and swampy. If some attention is not immediately given to the
bungalow, it will fall. The inner walls, on a level with the ground, are almost eaten through.
We crossed the Chenab next morning about a mile and a half from Shershah on a steam ferry,
and got upon a nice road, under a splendid avenue of trees, which extended to 13 miles beyond
Mozuffergarh. The country from Mozuffergarh to Rajanpur viâ Khangarh is low and
swampy, and not a good route for troops. The road or track is bad; there are no regular
encamping grounds, those of Aleepur and Leelpur having been made for us; it is not the dâk
road, and there is no regular ferry at Duhka, where we were ordered to cross the Indus. The
river was very much swollen when we got to it, and we were delayed a day on account of having
to embark and disembark the baggage and camels twice. There was no road from this to
Rajanpur. Noorpur is in a swamp, and so is the country roundabout. I certainly would
not recommend any one to go by this route when there is a good road and ferry from
Mozuffergarh to Rajanpur viâ Dera Ghazi Khan. We halted at Rajanpur a day, and went to
Moorghaie in one march of 14 miles along a good road, instead of doing it in two marches of
12 and 6 through Mithankot, as directed in the Route-book. The road is fair as far as Rajhan,
after which there is only a path over a sandy plain to Bundirallee, an outpost garrisoned by a
squadron of the 1st Punjab Cavalry. The outpost consists of a mud fort, built in the middle
of a plain, with no trees nor shrubs within a mile. There is a well in the middle of this fort
containing good water, but not in sufficient quantity for a brigade of infantry. This is the
only water between Rajhan and Khubridani, the next camp 23 miles off. We did not know
about this want of water between Rajhan and Bundirallee; consequently we had to go without
our tea. I should recommend that all doolies be left behind at Rajanpur, and a similar
number of camels given supplied with sick kajawahs. It is very difficult for the dooly
bearers to carry the doolies without. bumping them against the rocks in the beds of the
nullahs; besides they are very heavy in themselves, and, entail the expense of six men. I
should think 8 camels with kajawahs and 4 dandies with 4 kahars to each dandy would be
ample carriage for a regiment and the followers. The common dandies are preferable
to the Bareilly ones; they are less liable to break. The chagul supplied with each dooly
and dandy are useless—at least mine were; they were so stiff and hard and leaky, that the
little water you did manage to get into it leaked out. Bottles, with leather round them,
would be better and cleaner. Camel puckals have to be filled at Bundirallee on account of
there being no water on the way to the next camp. The first part of the march to Khubridani
is a slight ascent through these passes over low hills; beyond we came on the bed of nullah,
and continued along it until within three miles of camp, when we slightly ascended, travelling