CO882-(1-2) — Page 222

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

لسالسا

Reference :-

C.O. 882

1

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |

within the tropics, open to the sea-breeze, European troops are likely to enjoy health; and with proper precaution, during the hottest weather, may always take their share of duty."

In answer to these observations, Sir Henry Pottinger observed, "As I have been in some degree the instrument of Hong Kong's becoming a possession of the Crown of England, and am also specially directed by my instructions to report on its capabilities, &c., I am forced to record my total dissent as to the insalubrity of the climate; for, although it may be visited with those diseases, chiefly ague with fever, incidental to all tropical regions, during the months of heat and rain, yet experience has shewn, that with common prudence, those diseases may be often avoided altogether, and that they are seldom fatal in those months, whilst throughout the remaining nine months of the year, nothing can be more delightful or salubrious than the climate. The opulent British and other merchants of Macao, as well as settlers from India, who are (I hear) already flocking to the island to reside, are not likely to commit themselves by such a step, had they any apprehension of its being less healthy than the places at which they have hitherto resided, and where they have capital dwellings, and every comfort about them. This test alone would satisfy me, where my own personal experience and information 80 strongly corroborate it; and with respect to the troops, I am pained to say, that I consider them to form no criterion whatever. know that the troops are not only allowed to go about at all times without regard to heat, rain, or cold, but that the Europeans have been permitted to bathe, for hours together, under a meri- dian sun, &c."

To which Sir Hugh Gough replied:-

"In regard to my opinion of the unhealthiness of the north side of Hong Kong, for about three months in the year, að 2 quarter for European troops, I spoke from facts, from the expe- rience of two seasons, from the unanimous opinion of the prin- cipal medical officers of the force; and holding this opinion, it would have been most reprehensible in me, not to adduce it as a ground for building barracks on the south side, and for not employing European troops on the north side, if avoidable, during the sickly season. Your Excellency was not resident at Hong Kong during that season, or at any period of unusual sickness or mortality amongst the troops," &c.

In April, 1843, Captain Sir Edward Belcher, commanding Her Majesty's ship "Samarang," wrote to Captain Beaufort, Hydro- grapher to the Admiralty.

"The selection of the site for the town was not approved by the General and Sir Fleming Senhouse. On my arrival Sir Fleming sent me to see what was doing. I could not gain advance by reason of the muddiness of the marshy side of the hill selected for the town. I predicted the unhealthiness which ensued, and it will continue to occur unless they drain all the slopes which con- stantly furnish a subterraneous stream. The main argument I then upheld was the Chinese maxim, that The ground was more better for paddy than build that house Pigeon.'

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"The Chinese inhabit the valley I proposed, and were not sickly. It bears the name of Belcher's Valley to this day. All the valuable positions have been purchased on my opinion; and you will probably learn that Government will have to purchase the island to build a martello tower. 1 know the General fixed upon it for that purpose before I parted from him in August 1841."

In his second report 'Major Aldrich, speaking of the import-

Minute,

Sir Geo. Murray's October 24, 1843.

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ance of providing additional accommodation for the troops, and particularly hospital accommodation, states the sickness among them as averaging in July last between 20 and 40 per cent.

Again, speaking of the disadvantages of Navy Bay as a site for a dock-yard, he mentions the circumstance of the 26th Regi- ment, 439 strong, having lost in six months by death at West Point barrack one-third of their men; and states the mortality in the 55th Regiment, while occupying the same barrack to have been in the same proportion "within the last two months;" and their sickness to have been so excessive as to make it necessary to abandon the barracks and place the troops on board of a trans- port.

"The faces of this island," Major Aldrich states, "are formed by steep projecting spoony promontories from the heights, very close to each other, of granite, in deep decomposition, running to the sea-side, &c.

"It rains here about 270 days in the year, and the miasma arising from a burning sun on the rank vegetation produced upon this decomposed rock, with the débris from the same, is hourly being brought down to the bay by the ravines, which are thus made the most unhealthy locations. The next bad in character are on the cuttings and on the undulations on the slopes of the hills and promontories, where the circulation of air is impeded.

"The opinions, therefore, of the medical officers, in which I entirely coincide, have defined the most healthy locations in the island to the sea-side, and the experience of building in China has led to the same conclusion.

"On the subject of barrack accommodation it is my duty to state, that I feel the troops will have cause of complaint, if another year passes away before cover for them, even under a temporary arrangement, be provided for them, &c. I therefore beg to exone- rate myself and the Royal Engineer Department from all blame on the subject," and he then refers to his proposals made for provid- ing proper accommodation "an evidence of his attention having been directed to the wants and frightful mortality and sickness among the troops."

In communicating Major Aldrich's report to Lord Stanley, Sir George Murray observes, "I consider the existence of a keep or stronghold of some sort, to be essential in the system of defence of any detached possession; and it is indispensable in every colony in which the allegiance of the population may be likely, under any circumstances, to become doubtful."

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