197
EASTERN FRONTIER DISTRICT
The stockade at Monierkhal is likewise situated on an eminence ; the ground slopes gently
to the river, which is a few hundred yards distant. All round the stockade the land is well
cleared of jungle, but on the other bank of the river dense forest jungle comes down to the
water's edge. The place is completely shut in by hills, consequently the current of air is almost
at a standstill ; dense fogs rise in the night (especially in the cold weather), and enveloping
the whole place saturate everything with moisture. They rarely clear off before 10 or 11 A. M.
Chargola is, I understand, a thickly populated district, the principal inhabitants being
Munniporees. Rice is extensively grown there, and a large bazar is held once a week. Ally-
nugur rather differs from it in these respects.
Monierkhal.
Chargola.
IV. Meteorology.—For information on this point I am chiefly indebted to the kindness
of Dr. Monteath, Civil Surgeon. The rainfall is 14 . 5 inches above that of 1873, and is con-
siderably above the average. The rains set in rather early. In February there was an unusually
heavy fall; this was very advantageous to cultivators, especially of tea. The crops have
altogether been very much better than those of 1873, owing, no doubt, to the distribution of the
rainfall. The observations from which the humidity is calculated are taken twice a day, viz., at
10 A. m. and 4 P. M. In the early morning, e. g., about 4 A. M., the degree of humidity is
rarely below 90 per cent.—one reason for late parades. In April. and May, i. e., at the setting
in of the rains, there were numerous' severe and sudden storms, accompanied with very bad
thunder and lightning ; fortunately the lines escaped; on three separate occasions a small shoe-
makers' village quite close to cantonments was struck by the electric fluid, and on the third
occasion was set on fire.
The force of the wind was sometimes very great ; on May 11th the velocity during the
21 hours was 178 miles ; but this conveys no accurate idea of the hourly velocity during a
storm, for the latter rarely lasted more than an hour or two. The cold weather set in rather
suddenly about the middle of November. On December 24th, about 11-30 P.M., a slight
shock of earthquake was felt. The fogs in the station have, perhaps, been a little less frequent
and less dense than last year. The bad fogs almost invariably roll in from the Chutta Bheel,
an extensive tract of country about seven miles to the south, which is under water for six or
seven months of the year.
Meteorology.
The lines are at present undergoing the usual annual repairs, otherwise
being unchanged. The accommodation is said to be limited, but owing to the
large number always absent, there is but slight overcrowding, which defect,
however, is amply remedied by free ventilation. The quarters occupied by
the band are not favourably reported on. The medical officer writes :—
The houses being their own, insanitary conditions to some extent must be expected, viz.,
overcrowding, imperfect ventilation, imperfect repair, &c. None of these defects, however, are
very glaring. I have tried to remedy some by having windows made where I thought neces-
sary. Unfortunately the relative position of the two rows is a great obstacle to cross ventila-
tion in either. Strict attention is paid to the cleanliness of these lines, and hitherto
n o d i s e a s e s d i r e c t l y a t t r i b u t a b l e t o i n s a n i t a r y c o n d i t i o n s h a v e a r i s e n t h e r e .
The same remarks apply more or less to the regimental bazar, some of the houses in
which are much overcrowded and in bad repair. The Quarter-Master and I have made fre-
quent inspections during the year ; small superficial drains have been cut here and there; and
the cleanliness of the whole bazar has been scrupulously attended to. On the whole, then, the
condition of the lines during the year has been satisfactory.
At Monierkhal and Nowarbund the huts are similar to those at head-quarters, if any-
thing better ; the walls, however, are not plastered, so that it is often a little chilly in the
early morning during the cold season. There is ample accommodation, and the situation in
both cases is on high ground. The huts at Chargola and Allynugur are, I understand,
similar to those at head-quarters.
VI. Drainage.— This is almost in statu quo, as bad as ever. An attempt was made to
drain the jheel in the south-east portion of cantonments by making a tank in the centre of it;
it is little better than a failure. I understand there is at present under consideration of
Government a scheme for die drainage of the entire station, civil and military ; it is to be
honed that something may be done, for the place is sadly in need of it.
Lines.
Drainage,
VII. Conservancy and latrines.—In last year's report I mentioned how badly the
trench system worked in the rains; this year, however, a great improvement has been effected.
The following is a short description of the present system :—The framework is of bamboo and
matting; there are 30 compartments for the men, and 6 for the native officers. Each compart-
ment i s about 4 feet square and 4 1/ 2 feet hi gh, and has i t s own door ; a movabl e and proj ect i ng
mat roof covers all ; the trenches have been given up, and for them substituted a gumla in
each compartment ; this receives the solid excreta alone ; leading from the gumla through the
centre of the compartment outwards a split bamboo conveys the urine and the water used in
ablution into a bamboo aqueduct which surrounds the latrine. From the lowest corner of the
latrine this aqueduct is continued for some distance towards the jungle, then empties itself into a
drain (superficial), which has a good fall. About 15 yards behind the latrine a piece of
ground about 30 × 12 feet is covered by a movable mat roof, supported merely on bamboos.
A superficial trench about 9 inches deep surrounds it, and at the place of lowest level leads off
towards the jungle ; by this means the surface water is at once carried off. Underneath this
roof trenches of the ordinary depth and width are dug, the earth being broken up fine and
Conservancy.
Latrines in use.
B 2