1 REVIEW BY SECTIONS.
2 PACHBADRA.
3 Establishment in the Luni
4 salt tract,
5 1}
6 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
7 bs e, ¥ Fy
8 “The following are details of the monthly rainfall of the
9 previous year: —
10 ry - Inches.
11 April 1893 wee ves bes we =U
12 May <5 Ses Piesc fee sis 14)
13 June ” i see ita 6-20
14 July ” vee. oes cee we «15:05
15 August ” aes ove ses = «860
16 September ,, sé és a we LTSL
17 October ” ae “es sve we OOD
18 November ,, a ise deat we 182
19 December i Or wee ace vee O00
20 January 1894 a eve “es eee «= OSG
21 February ” oie wee sae pee On 5)
22 March He ma ike ae ae O25
23 “The rainfall of the past year was phenomenally heavy,
24 almost three times the highest recorded in any previous year,
25 and over four times as much as the average of previous years.
26 Over 15 inches of rain fellin July and over 174 inches in
27 September in almost a continuous downpour, which did immense
28 damage to cultivation and buildings, filled the pits with fresh
29 water, and flooded the tract for a month. The rainfall in
30 September was cyclonic, travelling from the south-west in an
31 east-north-east direction. Such rain as fell in September was
32 not only unknown during the years the observatory has been at
33 work here, but is beyond the memory of the oldest inhabitant.
34 There is a tradition, however, that in some remote time the
35 tract was flooded as it was in September last. The deluge of
36 rain which fell in September was an unmixed evil ; it destroyed
37 the crops ; it flooded the tract, causing ai outbreak of malarious
38 fever, and later influenza and pneumonia ; it stopped work in
39 the tract, and rendered the extraction of salt impossible at a
40 time when the demand for salt was exceptionally heavy ; and
41 it did immense damage to buildings and caused an epidemic
42 of some disease among the camels which decimated them.
43 The tanks were filled to overflowing, and the supply of water
44 in them will last probably to the end of June; but it is doubt-
45 ful whether the supply will not before the end of May become
46 unwhvlesome, as the tanks could not be cleaned out in 1892-93,
47 aud the heavy flood of the past year must have washed into
48 them unwholesome matter from the high-lands on which the
49 Bunjarahs and others graze their cattle.”
50 The Kharwals or pit-owners have given no trouble dur-
51 ing the past year. In fact, as Mr. Buckley the Assistant
52 Commissioner has recorded, several of them behaved excep-
53 tionally well when we were in great need of salt to supply
54 the rush of trade that came upon the source in September last.
55 58. During the year under report the establishment main-
56 tained in the Luni salt tract for the protection of the salt re-
57 venue, and which was reorganized in the preceding year, con-
58 sisted of 1 inspector, 3 kotegushts, 5 jamadars and 40 peons,
59 and of one hospital assistant, one compounder, one bhisti
60 and one sweeper at the Bhatki hospital and dispensary. This
61 reduced preventive establishment has worked satisfactorily
62 during the year, and been found sufficient to protect the in-
63 terests of Government in the Luni salt tract.
64 The fixed and contingent charges for the past two years
65 are as follows :—
66 Fixed. Contingencies, Fotal.
67 Rs. Rs. Rs.
68 1892-93 on as 10,553 1,581 2 Lh
69 1893-94 Sis ss 6,299 686 ¢ 6,98
70 Decrease a 4,254 895 5,149