Proposed Withdrawal of British Troops from Morar and Gwalior [‎102r] (21/32)

Morar stream* aW ^ ^ allowed to S row U P °a the bank of the
m. • St e ? r ?’ u , ve 6 can tonment, and its sewage flows into the stream
This was of less consequence when the course of the stream was open and
scoured by the annual floods ; but it has since been uermanentlir a., ° P i & d
without any sufficient means of scouring the bed of the stream, or Jf mTffitaffi-
mg a pei manent water level, so that a large alluvial deposit has taken place
and there is a malarious margin exposed, to be dried up in the autumn or
vhenever there are fluctuations of the stream water-level. I believe sickness
mig e r ^ ce d to this cause. The evil of the sudder bazaar was brought to
the notice of the Government a year ago, and those of the lake and dam
some eight months ago, after my inspection in the cold season. Nothing
whatever has been done practically to remedy these evils.
Unless the dam is so constructed as to keep the lake and bed of the
stream in proper order, it will be better to remove all obstructions to the course
ol the waters.
The lake, however, is a great source of amusement; it holds a good supplv
of water which might be pumped up for the ordinary use of the barracks on
the high ground; and it affords a very material protection to the cantonment
from surprise, on the side towards the city.
The course which I should adopt, would be to relieve the British garrison
annually, as long as the unhealthy character of the station of JVforar continues.
To complete the barracks which have been constructed, by addins sun-
shades of moveable Venetians or, if necessary, even light verandahs to cover
the exposed walls; to lay on a good supply of water to the barracks, and to
correct the evils of the sudder bazaar pollutions, and the errors in treatin°’ the
Morar stream. °
To construct a railway to Agra instead of adding to the force at Morar.
The additions to the fort might, under the circumstances, be dispensed
with; they are such as are proper for the efficiency of such a place, but with
an ample supply of sand bags and intrenching tools, any deficiencies might be
temporarily supplied.
The repairs of the fort might be confined to preventing further delapida-
tion. A supply of bullocks kept up in the fort, with suitable carriages for the
ordnance, would admit of their being mounted when necessary. Every open
demonstration calculated to give umbrage to Scindiah should be avoided.
I think these measures would be better than to throw away thirty-five
lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , to resuscitate a dangerous military power in adjacent position
to the very centre of our possessions, and to offer an example of vacillating
policy which will surely excite similar desires of emancipation from British
military control at Indore and Hyderabad.
NAPIER OF MAGDALA.
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