168 CEYLON BRANCH — XtOYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY- 



of Putlam during these months has been 79.363. As regards 

 the weight of the atmosphere I have indeed registered it, but 

 unfortunately having only one sympiesoraeter, and that not quite 

 trustworthy I refrain from giving the results, only remarking 

 that the variations though constant are yet confined to an ex- 

 tremely small range. 



In now proceeding to enquire what influence the various sea- 

 sons have on the human species it will be necessary to make 



a few preliminary remarks. 



The persons on whom the observations have chiefly been 

 made form the detachment stationed at Putlam; — the men are 

 for the most part of Mozambique origin, more or less inter- 

 mixed with Singhalese, Tamil, and impure Dutch and Portu- 

 guese blood. They are strong, rather tall, well made and robust: 

 they are provided with comfortable lines, draw good and regular 

 pay, and live better than the natives. They are on the other 

 hand a good deal addicted to drunkenness. It is also to be 

 observed that of course the troops generally consist solely 

 of able bodied men, young boys, old men, and all persons 

 unfit for duty from chronic disease or otherwise, being neces- 

 sarily excluded. 



It appears then that observations on these troops Mall not 

 be quite conclusive regarding persons, natives of other countries, 

 and having other habits, but may yet be valuable as shewing 

 that the insalubrity of Putlam has been greatly exaggerated 3 

 and that by taking reasonable precautions, persons living there 

 are not more exposed to disease than those who reside at places 

 which enjoy a much higher reputation in this respect. The 

 CafFre soldiers appear to me to resemble Europeans in consti- 

 tution, character and habits more closely than do any of the 

 other natives with whom they are mixed: if I am correct in this, 

 the observations made on these men will be to a considerable 

 extent applicable to English residents, 



