Reports from Yangoon  : 1861 - Half -yearly Report by Captain H. Davies 

Half-yearly report of the officer -in-charge of State Prisoners, Rangoon.

“                                                             1st July 1861

I have the honour to state that the State Prisoners under my charge have enjoyed good health during the past six months.  Abu Zafar is generally getting weaker;  The Civil Surgeon is of opinion, that his tenure of life is very uncertain.  Zinat Mahal, the wife of Abu Zafar, has all along enjoyed excellent health.  Zamani, the wife of Jawan Bakht, has occasionally complained of slight attacks of fever.  She is now well as is also her little girl and there is a prospect of an addition to her family.  Jawan Bakht and Shah Abbas, the two sons of Abu Zafar, are in good health;  they both attend at my house pretty regularly and study a little English with Mr. Finncane who was formerly Brigadier Sergeant Major here;  they are making remarkable progress and may require a superior teacher hereafter.  Of all the attendants Ishrat suffered for a long time from painful abscess in her left breast and Ahmed Beg has recently had a n attack of fever.  Mr. Davies has occasionally taken Zamani out for a drive and both she and Zinat Mahal have been over to spend an hour or so at our house occasionally .....

The prisoners find their quarters rather confined.  There is a difficulty in making any alteration in the house.

Nawab Begum, mother of Zamani, Jawan Bakht's wife, has occasionally expressed a wish to visit Rangoon; inquiry has been made whether she really intends visiting her daughter.

Sd./- H.Davies

in Charge of State Prisoners