of the late Sickness at Akyab. 33 



1 7. The gases which result from vegetable decomposition, and which 

 form that deleterious atmosphere, known by the name of marsh mias- 

 ma, is specifically heavier than atmospheric air. To dissipate this evil, 

 it is necessary that currents of air should pass as near to the surface 

 of the ground as practicable ; every thing impeding this influence 

 should be removed, or if this is found to be impracticable, care should 

 be taken to prevent the accumulation of gas. It is upon this prin- 

 cipal that the paddy cultivation between the station and the town 

 should be suppressed. The ground marked in the Map d. d. d. 

 whereon this cultivation takes place, is a hollow over which the wind 

 passes ; but from the peculiar concave formation of the spot, its influ- 

 ence is exerted not immediately over the surface of the ground. The 

 growth of paddy is likewise objectionable here, from the nature of the 

 cultivation in question, when it occurs in a sandy soil, and which 

 from its slight elevation hardly admits of perfect drainage. It is at 

 the commencement and termination of this paddy cultivation, that its 

 immediate effects are more immediately felt ; in the first place by dis- 

 turbing the surface of the ground, and in the second place by allow- 

 ing the residue of the paddy to remain, and not on a loose soil which 

 is always subject to periodical changes, no hardness can take place 

 which is of the first importance. It is recommended to convert these 

 paddy fields into pasture grounds ; and the drainage could be assisted, 

 and the appearance improved, by the formation of roads throughout 

 their whole extent, or a cultivation of wheat and barley, which does 

 not require so much moisture as paddy, might be encouraged. 



18. On the south bank of the Charoogia Creek, there exists a jungle 

 of the most deleterious character. It extends from the opening of 

 the creek to the ghat marked in the Map e. e. e. ; it is bounded by the 

 Ong-ta-beng road, covered with mangrove jungle, growing out of a 

 low muddy slip of ground without any pretensions to drainage, and 

 over which the sea flows at its every influx. I know of nothing 

 which would tend more to the health of the inhabitants, generally, 

 than the removal of this jungle and draining the ground ; and I would 

 earnestly urge this suggestion on the consideration of the executive, 

 as one eminently calculated to check the prevalence of disease. It 

 is likewise with the same view that I would recommend the removal 



