32 Medical Report on the causes 



servoir into which the drains of the town flow, and the larger of these 

 which pass through the town are nothing more than smaller estuaries, 

 into which, of course, the tide rises twice in 24 hours. It is therefore 

 of the utmost importance, that they should be kept constantly free of 

 every thing in the shape of impediment to the free passage of water, 

 and for this purpose it would be advisable to clean them thoroughly, 

 and dam up the banks with the refuse from the centre. - Houses 

 placed on their immediate margin, are very injurious to the integrity 

 of the current, as the banks are worn away by the driving of piles, 

 &c. There should be a broad road on each side of all the drains 

 in the town, and the banks could be strengthened by judiciously 

 planting the vicinity, with large arboraceous trees. 



15. The remarks in the foregoing paragraph refer to all the 

 smaller estuaries in the vicinity of Akyab, but they are particularly 

 applicable to the largest of them, called the " Pyke toe kyong" or 

 " Fisherman's Nullah," and marked in the Map a. It takes its rise 

 at the Regimental magazine, and after passing in a circuitous course 

 through the town, empties itself at right angles with the harbour. 

 The paving with stone, that portion of the drain into which the tide 

 rises, would be of much advantage, and would materially assist in pre- 

 venting the banks from falling in ; which, from the nature of the soil, 

 is an accident very likely to occur. There is another nullah which 

 likewise deserves to be mentioned, it is marked in the Map b. and 

 empties itself close to the flag-staff. At every spring tide the water 

 flows over its boundaries, and acres of ground are covered with salt 

 water, which, as it is close to the station, is of incalculable injury. 

 This nullah requires bunding, so as to keep the current of water in 

 its natural course. 



16. The ground from which the jungle has recently been removed, 

 situated on the sea beach, c. c. requires draining as far as practicable, 

 to obtain that beneficial influence which must ultimately accrue from 

 the removal of so much diseased vegetation. At present the sea water 

 covers very frequently a great portion of this ground, and it is in con- 

 sequence not only injurious in a sanatory point of view by encourag- 

 ing decomposition, but wholly prevents the ground from being reclaim- 

 ed for agricultural purposes. 



