34 Medical Report on the causes 



of the low huts and vegetation marked in the Map/., situated between 

 the flag-staff and burial ground. The native habitations few in num- 

 ber, form the nucleus of all manner of filth and diseased vegetation, 

 and as this spot is the only place where the sea air can come direct 

 to the station, the inducement for its removal has an additional claim 

 from this consideration. 



19. On the subject of food, but little can be done in a sanatory 

 point of view, with the exception of suggestions for the removal of the 

 present fish market. The Mughs eat largely of fish : on account of its 

 abundance and consequent cheapness, it becomes necessarily the sta- 

 ple article of food. To prevent by police regulations the sale of bad 

 fish, is certainly of paramount importance, but as the fish market is 

 at present constituted, decomposition speedily takes place. The fish 

 is at present exposed for sale on the ground, in the heart of the town, 

 surrounded on every side with houses, and acted upon directly by the 

 rays of the sun, as no roof is erected in the present constituted state 

 of the market. A raised pucca market built by the side of the 

 water with a bamboo roof, would be most desirable, and would con- 

 tribute, not a little, to the general health of the inhabitants ; as the 

 market could be so arranged, that all the refuse could be carried off 

 by the first ebb-tide. 



20. In alluding to the subject of water in an alimentary consideration, 

 but few conveniences exist for the native population of the town. In 

 the rainy season each inhabitant digs a deep hole in his compound for 

 the purpose of catching the rain-water ; this hole partially fills up, and 

 from the loose nature of the soil, the sides give way, great hollows are 

 formed, which soon become filthy swamps. In the dry weather the 

 people resort to tanks or nullahs, the latter of which are generally 

 brackish from the mixture of sea-water. The sides of these reser- 

 voirs are filthy beyond description, and swarm with vermin. No doubt 

 can possibly exist as to the perniciousness of this practice, and 

 disease is an inevitable consequence. In the whole of Akyab and its 

 neighbourhood but two public wells have been constructed, and this 

 is principally for the convenience of the shipping. It is true that one 

 large well has been erected at the private expense of a solitary indivi- 

 dual for the sake of the public good, but only tends to shew the ab- 



