Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1886-04-23
A CAMP In INDIA.
THE NATIVE TROOPS OF GEN. ROB.
ERTs' COMMAND NEAR DELHI.

Other Features-An Elephant Battery
of Heavy Guns-Nany Sports and Ex-
ercIses-A Picturesque Assembly.
The native troops struck me, and be-
lieve our accredited officers are equally inn
pressed, as being far in advance OF what
was looked for, the Ghoorkas and Sikhs
being especially noticeable, the latter from
their good height, fine physique, intelligence
and general fondness for the service They
were among the last of the native tribes to
| yield 10 British rule, but have ever since
been the most loyal Of her majesty's Indian
subjects They were thoroughly devoted
during the mutiny Of 1857, and did good
service against the rebels. Their stronghold
is about Ameritzer, city near Lahore
where they have one of their most sacred
temples, known as the Golden temple. The
Ghoorkas come from Nipaul in the Hima-
layas, and show much more of the Mongolian
type of feature. They are a rather short,
but natty looking set Of men, armed in ad
dition TO their rifle with a large curved
sheath knife, which is worn ON the belt
They are very unrelenting and rarely
spare the life Of even fallen foe
The field uniform of all arms of tie SER
vice is made of material called karl;ee IL
is a species Of American duck of yellowish
clay color, and consists of a jacket short
trousers, and pair Of leggings called put
ties, being roll Of cloth wound round the
leg in spiral form from the ankle to the
knee, in a manner similar 10 that ia which
race horses legs are bandaged
UNIFORMS or NATIVES AND EUROPEANS.
For full dress the native as well as tho
European troops wear the tunic of various
colors and of different facings Red is still
tha rravai1fnW color hut In ffon
with officers gathered the inn ression that
the karkee color, or drab, is thu one which
many favor, as it so nearly approaches that
Of the soil as 10 make the soldiers almost in
distinguishes and / observed that when
IN the field, except for the turban which the
natives wear at all times, il was difficult 20
discover a body of troops-especially IL they
were not on the march The European sol
der also wears his topy or sun hat with the
karkee, and Is less observable than the ma
tive The Ghoorkas are an exception, and
do not wear the turban, but in its stead a
species Of shell cap, not unlike the jaunty
headpiece Of the English soldier, with
whom, by the by, he fraternize' more than
any other of the native troops
One Of the features Of this command that
is especially striking TO an American is its
elephant battery of heavy guns, which l
There were really two kinds Of draught
the elephant and the bullock, there being
eighteen OF the former and 500 OF the latter.
The wheel elephant is placed in pair Of
wide shafts, and has very large, heavy
and strong saddle, not unlike huge cart
saddle This is attached by heavy leath
ern band and iron chains TO the shafts He
has also a strong breast strap and breech-
ing. The lead elephant is hitched in a SINH
lar manner TO that In which the lead horse
is q tandem team would be. The bullocks
accompany the battery not only for
draught purpose, for which they use from
four 20 six yokes for each gun, but be-
cause they are indispensable in time Of "a
tion, as the elephant wAl not stand fire He,
realizing the danger, would DO liable TO
stampede the guns, and hence is detached
when the enemy is near, and bullocks yoked
in There were some superb specimens Of
the latter attached 10 the battery There
were also two or three mountain batteries,
in which the guns and parts of carriages
were on the backs of mules.
MANLY SPORTS AND EXERCISES
Not the least interesting or noticeable
feature Of the Indian service is the great at
tention given to manly sports and exercises
Every opportunity is furnished for the de-
velopment Of the physique and for acquir-
ing skill in the amusements, of which the
most daring and probably the most popular
is tent pegging. This consists in riding at
full tilt and taking with the lance a rather
short and broad tent peg from the ground:
and you may be a little surprised when
tell you that Gen. Roberts led or in this
sport, and with his team of four made the
best score OF the season There were numer-
Gus other mounted and foot sports, such as
lance against sword, sword against bayonet,
sword against sword, bayonet against bay
onet, tent pegging with sword, cutting lem
ons with swords, tug Of war, foot racing,
and acrobatic and gymnastic feats
The march past" Of the entire force,
some 5000, closed the camp OF exercis. II
was lone in the midst Of pouring rain
By ~ time the cavalry and horse and foot
artillery had passed the reviewing point,
the dark soil had been churned into the con-
sistency Of a thin led Of mortar, and when
the native infantry came by, many Of
whom wore only the slipper, there was "a
sad loss of this rather necessary appendage
Of the foot soldier, and I rather think this
test may bring about change. All troops,
native as well as European, marched by
with great precision, and the line and dress
Of the double companies-we style them
divisions-were admirably observed. As
the elephant battery passed, the knowing
animals raised their trunks and saluted, for
which purpose they folded the trunk into
the form Of the letter s, holding 1t square
TO the front
The appearance Of the ground In and
about the slight mound where the reviewing
officer was posted calls for some attention,
as it was made up Of all sorts and conditions
of men, from those who were in the hand
some fourth hand with native outriders, 10
the humble peasant who had trudged out
five miles to see the grand parade. There
were all sorts of mounts, but chiefly notice
able were the camels and elephants /
counted seventy-hve of the latter, many
richly coparisoned and provided with
howdahs for carrying the families Of chiefs
The sight was truly eastern, as all the ma.
tives were in holiday attire, and the gaudy
colors of their dress o made TIE assembly
all the more picturesque. Col Floyd-Jones'
Military Correspondence
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