CO885-5 — Page 529

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Wind-sails.

Sail-rooni.

Lamp and oil

room.

14

seem to think that awnings are only required to be seen at inspections, and are then to be stowed away till next time, and there is sometimes a good deal of grumbling when the Surgeon Superintendent requires them to be spread at sea, and he will be told that it is impossible to set the wind sails with the awnings spread, which can only be the case if there are no proper openings in the awnings for them. Sometimes he will be told that it will interfere with the management of the ship to spread the awnings, but as they are never required, except in calms or very light winds in the tropics, to shelter the people from the heat, this is "bosh," and merely a pretext to save trouble, and the Surgeon Super- intendent should insist on their being spread when necessary, unless the master can give a certificate in writing that their being spread would seriously interfere with the handling of the ship.

The Surgeon Superintendent should then inspect the accommodation under the poop, and see—

I. That there is a sail-room there capable of stowing away all the spare sails. This sail-room preferably should open

direct upon

the quarter-deck; but he should see that the spare sails are always stowed under the poop, as the only alternative will be that they will be put down in the hold, which will necessitate the opening of the hold at all times when a sail is required for being set, for being repaired, or for being replaced after being repaired, and these mean practically nearly always-to the danger of the coolies from falling down the open hatch and foul air escaping from the hold into the 'tween decks, and the constant encroachment on that space which is supposed to be reserved for the coolies by the constant dragging of sails backward and forward along the coolie deck. I don't think that this is properly understood by those who have not been to sen in one of these ships, or it would be more strongly insisted upon; e.g., at any time, day or night, that a sail is split or carried away (and my experience shows that this happens quite as often by night as by day, and most frequently when the sleep of the people is disturbed by bad weather), another sail must be got up, which simply means the rousing of the people who are sleeping on the lower hatch below which the sails are stowed, and also of all the people between that and the hatchway through which the sail must be hauled on deck.

II. That there is a lamp-room capable of holding all the lamps and oils for every purpose in the ship. I should think no remarks were required as to the absolute necessity of there being no oils stowed anywhere under the main-deck,

15

or even in the fore-peak, which should be reserved, when large enough, for coal.

III. That there are store-rooms, with proper locks and Store room keys, for the medical comforts and for the wine and brandy for medical for the coolies separate from that for the cabin stores.

comforts.

cabin.

In finishing his inspection, I think the Surgeon Super- Surgeon Super- intendent will be justified in looking a little after his own intendent's comfort, and see that the cabin allotted to himself is of sufficient cubic space for ordinary comfort in the tropics, and lighted and ventilated accordingly; that the bunk or bed- place is furnished with good and sufficient bedding and bed- clothes for all the temperatures he will experience during the voyage, and that there is a proper washstand, chest of drawers, book-case for his professional books, table for writing, with drawers to hold his official papers, and a good lamp-a rare thing on board ship-for writing when neces sary at night. He will find the saloon table practically useless for writing upon, as it is constantly in use for meals; and he will find that he has a good deal of writing to do, and in bad weather he will require some place to retire to at times which in fine weather he could spend on deck. He will

get every assistance in procuring proper accommodation for himself, should occasion for help arise, from the Protector and Medical Inspector of Emigrants and from the Einigra- tion Agent, if their attention is called to it, but he cannot expect them to look to his comfort unless he shows some care for it himself. Experto crede."

66

EXAMINATION of the CoOLIES AT THE Derût, At the time appointed, both the compounders and inter- preters, as well as the native depôt surgeon and the vaccinator, should be present. Each coolic will have his ticket in his hand, and the Surgeon Superintendent should ask his name and father's name, and see that they correspond with those on the paper. As the Surgeon Superintendent will have about 100 to 150 to examine at a time, it can be done more quickly and with the certainty of missing no important point, by following a regular plan; so I hope I shall not be accused of an attempt at dictating in giving my plan, as follows :-—

Making the coolie remove his topce or turban, I ex- amine the head, eyes, mouth, and teeth, and the condition of the glands of the face and neck, noting the scars of any discase--the nose and ears for ozona and otorrhea- the general state of the skin and muscular develop- ment, and note that if a coolie has a soft smooth skin he has probably been employed in housework and not as a

OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.

8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

C

om⭑

ical

8.

Super-

at's

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.

8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO