202
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
Arboriculture.
Meteorology
and the reservation of extensive tracts outside it for the growth of forest, no changes have
taken place in the physical features of the country for the past five years. Notwithstanding the
sparse population, and the facility with which trees of the pine, family grow in them, the
Khasia Hills near Shillong were almost bare of trees when the English settlement was
established in 1866. The destruction of the timber was due partly to the large quantities
consumed in iron smelting works, partly to the wholesale ruin of the young trees caused by
the annual firing of the jungle. The firing of the jungle has now been prevented to a great
extent, and large tracts of the hills, especially in the watershed of the streams which supply
the station, have been reserved for the growth of timber. In a few years the effects of these
beneficial measures will be apparent, and the hills, from being bleak and monotonous in appear-
ance, will be pleasantly diversified by forest tracts.
IV. Meteorology.—The chief feature of the climate of the year was the unusually heavy
rainfall, and the moderate temperature. In last year's report I had occasion to allude to the
steady increase in the rainfall in the three preceding years. For the six years prior to 1874,
the average rainfall was 71.8 inches. For the four succeeding years, the amount collected.
was as follows.
Rainfall
Years.
No. of days.
Quantity collected.
1874
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
153
95.3
1875
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
162
1 0 0 .
1876
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
146
9 5 .
1877
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
165
104.
Averag
.
1 5 6 . 5
98.5
Temperature.
Lines.
Drainage.
Conservancy
Water-supply.
Thus the average for 4 years has increased by 27 inches! Whether this increase is due
to cyclical variations, or whether it is permanent, and perhaps attributable to increased growth
of timber, further experience only can determine. The temperature of the year was
equable, the highest recorded being 78° in May, the lowest 42° in February. The mean aver-
age temperature for the entire year was 63.2. The great objection to the climate of Shillong
is the amount of cloud which almost continually occupies the sky. During the rains, which
may be said to last from April to October, there were 148 rainy days. Rain fell on 17 days
in the cold weather, that is, an annual total of 165 wet, and therefore cloudy, days. In addi-
tion to this, almost every afternoon in the cold weather the sky clouds over and renders the
aspect of the hills very bleak and comfortless. Still the climate is, on the whole, bracing and
invigorating, and most diseases, save hepatic affections, do well here.
V. Lines, barracks and huts.— In Shillong the 44th occupy the lines which formerly be-
longed to an Eurasian battery of artillery. The bungalows of the gunners, 9 in number, are
now used as follows :
—
Quarter-guard 1 ; hospital 2 ; Quarter-master's store 1; band and band-master 1; school-
house 1; bells of arms 2 ; hospital assistants' quarters 1;—total 9.
In the site of the old lines of the battery drivers, and on a neighbouring hill, huts for 4
companies are now being built. The site appears to be a good one. The position is well isolat-
ed, being about 2 miles from the civil bazars. Owing to the steep declivities of the sides of the
hillocks, the drainage is excellent. The space covered by the lines is also very large, and there
is no overcrowding of dwellings upon it. As the lines are at present only in course of con-
struction, the bazar not yet built, roads not made, sites not clearly demarcated, I am not in a
position to report accurately upon the disposition of the huts, &c. In next year's report I shall
do so fully.
VI. Drainage.—The natural drainage of' the new lines is excellent. There are no marshes
or pools of stagnant water near. Rain-water runs down the sides of the hills and through
the steep valleys as fast as it falls.
VII. Conservancy.— The system of conservancy has not yet been perfectly organized.
The pucka latrines belonging to the artillery lines are used to a large extent, especia ly by the
women and children. They are not exactly suitable to natives, inasmuch as they ale provided
with regular seats. Presently we shall have the seats removed, and a simple plarform sub-
stituted. Four of these privies having eight seats are close to the hospital, and are utsed by the
sick. They are all managed roughly on the dry-earth system. At present we have no sheds
for storage of dry-earth, but I hope to get them erected in a short time.
VI I I . Wat er - suppl y.— D r i n k i n g - w a t e r i s g o t f r o m a s m a l l r i v u l e t , w h i c h h a s b e e n l e d
from the higher ranges of' the hills into the middle of the lines. The water is soft and very
pure, but the supply scanty, hardly sufficient at this season for the wants of such a number of
men. At the foot of the hills on which the lines are situated, the Oom Shrepey, a good-sized,
rapid-running hill stream, flows. This is most useful for washing and bathing purposes; but as
in one part of its course it flows below the drainage of the large Khosia village of Lahore, it
is necessarily contaminated to some extent, and not safe for drinking purposes. As the drain-