Annual report of the Medical Department / Colony of Seychelles.

  • Seychelles. Medical Department.
Date:
[1928]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Annual report of the Medical Department / Colony of Seychelles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/60 (page 14)
    Picard Island. \ f*» - \ ,* ■ vf '— , -v\ - t o . > >4 • t' ; I i*- : »I . II •’ /I iv) *1 • 4 ' A *' • -* . Visited on 9th May Latitude 9 °-22 S. Longtitude 46-15 E., is about 3 miles long and about 1 mile in width, a good fishing centre, climate similar to Assumption. There were 19 ■en, 13 women, 1 boy and 20 children in this group, and there was in addition a fishing contractor working there, who had 9 men and 4 boys in his employment. The last inspection to this island was on 10th October 1926. The preparation of callipee for exportation is the principal industry, which results in the slaughter of a considerable number of turtles. In 1927 2,225 were caught and in 1928 up to April 517. The Mngistrate reports that the turtle industry is not carried out with the strict obser¬ vance of detail, similar to that prevailing at Assumption, he further reports that due to this destruction, green turtles will be very scanty, and that some scheme of preservation should be enforced. ^ Intestinal troubles appear to be prevalent with the labourers, but the medical report is deficient in this respect, also on the question of water supply, latrine and hygienic measures to be taken. Mangrove and pearl shell are found on the island, the shores swarm with sharks, flamin¬ gos are found in some places, land rails, sun birds and abundant bird life of different species. .mu;: .. ... . Providence Island. - ■ ' Inspected on 21st June Latitude 9-14 South, Longtitude 51*2 East, 2 miles long, and about of a mile in width, about 7 feet above high water a typical coconut island. Oopra is the main production, mo.-quitoes abundant. Fowls, ducks, and pigs plentiful. Labourers 16 men, 10 women, and 15 children recruited in Mahe, the ship in addition brought to the island 18 men, 15 woman and 6 children. Water supply consists of 4 wells. Turtles are caught and killed on this island three watchmen being specially told off to catch game, and paid Rs 2 for each turtle turned. Both Hawksbill and Green Turtle are caught, from 1925 to June 1928 there were killed 71 hawksbill and 126 green turtle, two cases of “Decoquees” were on the island (this disease I will refer to later on). No reference to latrines or other Hygienic precautions necessary. ‘•'j t, Poivre Island. Inspected on 30th June this is an atoll, composed of three islands planted in coconuts, the last inspection was in 1925 there were 95 people on the island made up as follows 43 ineu, 23 women, 20 boys and 9 children. This island is situated in Latitude 5*45 South and Longtitude 53*19 East it stands on a coral reet 3 miles long by 2 miles in width. Fsh hi plentiful in the neighourhood, coprah is the principal production, Hospital records were efficient, medicines of the ordinary kind adequate. “Decoquee” noticed on some of the labourers. No statement as to water supply, latrine accommodation, or hygienic measures necessary, the camp was stated to be clean. -r . - a- lie de Roches. These islands are 21 miles to the east of Poivre, they are 3^ miles long by half a mile in width, coprah is the principal production, fishing is excellent, turtle now-a-days are seldom seen, from 1925 to 1928 only 58 were caught. Drinking water is taken from wells. “Decoqu6e” is prevalent, hawksbill turtle are caught, from 1925 to June 1928 there were 60 taken. The inhabitants number 83 made up of 34 men, 25 women, 13 children and 7 boys and 4 artisans. No inspection of this island since 1923. No report on latrines, or hygienic measures necessary He Plate. This island was inspected on the 27th August, the Magistrate appears to have some trouble with the owners, polished ric^1 had been ^erred out to tlie labourers, samples of this rice (polished) were forward to the Legal Department as a contravention of Labour Ordinance 5 Of 1919 as amended by Government Notice No. 1 of 1925. Farquahar Crronf of Island. Visited on board the Schooner “Felieie” the Farquahar group of Islands on the 31st December 1928. These islands are in Latitude 10 ° South and are named after a former Governor of Mauritius, since 1923 these islands have been placed under the Seychelles Government. The islands are four in number. South island is alone cultivated and a portion of same is oet apart for the breeding of birds of the Booby type. The group is an atoll 11£ miles long by 6 miles in]width, and there was wrecked thereon, in 1902 the “Hardwick Hall” during a cyclone.