The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-12-10
A CAMP IN INDIA.
THE NATIVE TROOPS OF GEN. ROE
ERTS' COMMAND NEAR DELHI.


The GhOorkas and Sikhs-Uniforms and
Other Features-An Elephant battery
of Heavy Guns-Many Sports and TX
ercises-A Picturesque Assembly.
The native troops struck me, and L be
-Heve our accredited officers are equally I'M
pressed, As being far in advance Of what
was looked for, the Ghoorkas ana Sikhs
being especially noticeable, the latter from
their good height, fine physiqu intelligence
and general f0ndnsss for the service. They
were among the last of the native tribes to
yield 20 British rule, but have ever since
been the most loyal Of her maJesty's Indian
subjects. They were thoroughly devoted
during the mutiny Of 1881, 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
GhooTkas come from Nipaul in the Hima-
layas and show much more of the Monaghan
type Of feature. They are a rather short,
but nAtty looking set of men, armed in ad-
ditiOn 70 their rife with a large curved
sheath knife, which IS worn the bet
They are very unreenting, and rarely
spare the life of even fallen foe.
The field uniform of all arms Of tie
vice is made of a material called karkee. 1t
is a species Of American duck of yellowish
clay color, and consists Of a jacket, short
trousers, and a pair of leggings called put
ties, being q roll of cloth wound round the
le5 In a spiral form from the ankle to the
knee, in a manner similar to that in which
race horses legs are bandaged.
UNIFORMS or NATIVES AND EUROPEANS
For full dress the native as well as the
European troops wear the tunic of various
coIors and of different f. ings Red is still
the prevailing color, but in conversation
with officers 1 gathered the impression that
the karkee cO.or, or draJ is the one which
many favor, as it so nearly apprOa hes that
of the soil as to make the soldiers almost in
distinguishable; ami l deserved that whe
the field, except for the turban which the
natives wear at all times it di Icult %
discover body of troop5-especially if they
were not on the marcL. Tie European sol
der also wears his topy 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
hea ipiece Of the English soldier, with
whom, by the by, he frateTni more than
any other of the native troops.
One of the features OF this command that
is especially striking to American is its
elephant battery of heavy guns, w:ich L
took the pains TO examine quite infinitely.
There were really two kinds of draught
the elephant and the bullock, there eng
eighteen OF the former and 800 OF tine latter.
The wheel elephant is placed in pair of
wide shafts, and has very large, heavy
and strong saddle not unlike a huge cart
saddle This is attached by heavy leath-
ern band and iron chains to the shafts He
has also strong breast strap and breech-
ing. The lead elephant is hitched i'll SINH
lar manner to that IN which the lead horse
is a tandem team would be. 1 he buIIOcks
accompany the battery not only for
draughr purpose, for which they use from
four to SIX yokes for each gun, but be-
cause they are indispensable in time of
ton, the elephant viii not stand fire. He,
realizing the danger, would be liable to
stampede the guns, AMI hence is detached
when the enemy is near, and bullOcks yoked
III There were some superb specimens of
the latter attached to 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 popu ar
is tent pegging. This consists in riding at
short and broad tent peg from the grou ID
and you may be little surprised when L
tell you that Gen. Roberts led off 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, su IA as
lance against sword, sword against bayoaet,
sword against sword, bayOnet against by
onet, tent pegging with sword, cutting lem
ons with swords, tug of war foot racing,
and acrobatlc and gymnastic feats.
The march past of the entire force.
some 81, 600, closed the camp of exercise 1t
was done in the midst of a pouring rain.
By the time the cavalry and horse and foot
artillery had passed the reviewing point,
the dark soil had been churned into the con-
sistency of thin bed of mortar, and when
the native infantry came by many of
whom wore only the slipper there was
sad loss of this rather necessary appendage
of tie foot soldier, and { rather think this
test may bring about change All troops,
native as we'll Euro can, marched b. /
with greet precision, and the line and dress
Of the double companiss-we style them /
divis.ons-wsre 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 post, d 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. to !
the humble peasant who had trudged oct
five miles to see the grand parade. There
Were all sorts of mounts, but chiefly notice
able were the camels and elephants. 1
counted seventy-five 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
tfves were in holiday attire and the gaudy
colors of their dress male the assembly
all the more pictures Iue.-COL FlOyd-Jones
Military Correspondence.
The Wife of Gen. John c. Fremont.
One of the most noticeable of the women
visiting was Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont.
L,.nH