To Camp
No. 9.
Period at
Camp No. 9.
Opinion as to
latest resi-
dence in the
hills.
MEDICAL AND SANITARY REPORT OF THE NATIVE ARMY OF BENGAL.
A descent from the camp led to a narrow plateau between the hills and the Dikrung, along
which the path ran for several miles. There were several stiff places to go over which there
had not been time to improve, and after 3 hours' marching —8 miles—the force bivouacked
in the forest. It halted thus early because delay was anticipated for the transport ; the path in
many places being difficult and slippery. The men, however, arrived by 5-30 P. M.
This post was called No. 8 : heighth above the sea 2,082 feet. The space was contracted
by a swamp between the plateau and foot of the hill, but there was no place known to be avail-
able for at least two miles ahead. It was subsequently occupied for a few days by a working
party on the road ; otherwise it was not again used.
230
Cautions re-
garding the
transport
corps.
31. To Camp No. 9.—On the 2nd January the force marched onward. As it was pro-
bable we might be in this next camp for some time, a party of the staff went on to fix the
position.
Soon after starting, the path turned northward from the Dikrung, and a mile further
brought us to the bank of a fine stream, one of its feeders. Here there was a large level space
in thin forest which was fixed on for the commissariat. A little on one side, on a higher plateau
of somewhat stony soil, was fixed the sites for the 42nd and 44th huts. The place was rather
contracted and immediately under a hill ; but it was tolerably open, and, when cleared and
drained, made a good position. Crossing the stream, the transport were placed some 50 feet
above it, and proceeding up the spur for some 400 feet, a place was selected for head-quarters
and the remainder of the force. The spur was here narrow, with a gentle slope and steep
descents on either side ; there was just room for a line of men's huts facing outward on either
hand, leaving a roadway between. Time on the march 1 1/4 hour. The path was easy, though
unmade. Some 25 sick men came on quietly from camp No. 8. The percentage of sick
to strength to-day was, troops 6.1, transport 16.0, followers 2 . 4. Height of camp No. 9,
2,595 feet. The summits of the Missr Purbut, 8,000 feet, bore south-west, distant in a straight
line about five miles, but it would be nine hours' good walking to reach them.
32. Period at Camp No. 9.—At this camp head-quarters remained until the 27th January—
25 days—detained partly by weather, partly by political reasons. The only excursion made by
head-quarters was when Nana's village was visited in force on the 8th. Soon after arrival my
opinion was asked regarding the latest date for safe occupation of the country with regard to
the health of the troops. From all the information which could be obtained regarding weather,
malaria, &c., the opinion was recorded :—" On the score of health I do not think the force would
be obliged to return to the plains before the end of February. But the question of remaining so
long even, north of the Missr Purbut range, must depend, I imagine, independently of political
reasons, partly on the health of the troops, but more particularly on the health of the transport
corps, and their capability of bringing up supplies. If watertight shelter is given at each
staging camp, with sufficient protection from the ground itself ; if men are not allowed to
travel in actual rain, or be long in wet clothes, or even get their clothes wet at all ; if dry wood
is provided in sufficient quantities for camp fires, I do not see why the coolies should suffer in a
higher ratio than they are doing now, say 15 per cent., during the months of January and
February." It may be at once stated that the above precautions were carried out in full.
During the weather that is to be noted the men were under the best conditions practicable.
On our return their camps were found neat, watertight, and with well raised bed-places.
Carriage of
supplies.
Elephants were now bringing in supplies as far as Camp No. 4, Hurjoolie ; and the transport
were working on from there by relays ; 200 being stationed at No. 5, 200 at No. 6, 400 at
No. 7, and the balance at head-quarters to meet the men from No. 7, and bring on their
loads.
The weather.
State of the
transport
corps.
The weather.— Rain began on the 5th, clearing up on the 8th. There were then three fine
days, with the thermometer 32˚ and 33˚ at sunrise. Rain began again on the 11th and continued
until the 18th, eight days, sometimes heavy, sometimes showery, but always rain. There was no
rain gauge in camp. The thermometer during these eight days ranged from 35˚ to 45˚ at su
nrise. Three cloudy and showery days followed ; but the 22nd and 23rd were clear and bright
with thermometer at sunrise marking 30˚. Rain began on the 25th again, and continued more
or less for five days, and until we reached No. 6 camp.
33. Before the rains began, the tracks up to the front had been made good to stand every-
thing except the continuous and unexpected rain : the state of the roads and hillsides then
became very bad, and rendered bringing up the supplies a matter of difficulty. The transport
had improved in health, having come down from 16 per cent. of sick on the 3rd January to
8 . 5 on the 13th : after this date the percentage gradually rose again to 11 or 12 per cent., at
which it continued to the end of the expedition. From the 13th, however, a large proportion
of sickness was from accidents and debility. On the 17th, for instance, during the eight days' con-
tinuous rain, it was reported from No. 6 that the men were breaking down under the exposure
and very hard labor of the hill work. Every day men slipped or fell and hurt themselves
more or less, and the last of them did not get clear of the hillside till after nightfall. There
were 54 men in hospital at No. 6 alone. The men worked, however, with a will and with good
spirits. All who had not recovered the bowel complaints contracted at No. 6 had been sent to the
rear.
Camp No. 10.
Camp No. 10. On the 14th, the 44th went on to camp No. 10, half a mile from a new vil-
lage building by ' Nana.' The road was level, bordering the Dikrung for some four miles, which