Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-30
THE sUeALTERN's "TAT.n
A Useful and Knowing Friend of British
Officers In India.


The 81 baltern's ''tat" is doubtless I'M
known to 900 people out of 1000 To
the small minority he is remembered as
the useful and faithful animal who has
made it possible for officers to perform
their daily duties when stationed in
India. Tat" is the Hindostanee for
pony, ano the subaltern's tat comes into
existence as soon as a regiment marches
into its Cantonment, no matter in what
city that may be. The ''tat" is the common
property Of the lieutenants, and it is on his
back those hard worked officers spend
much of the day and night when detailed
for orderly officers duty.
As rule the ''tat" is bought from the
outgoing regiment and ut the first coming
in of a new corps is really most useful, for
he knows good deal more abont the geog-
raphy of The environment and where the
sentries are posted than the newly arrived
officers. Though having many masters,
the ''tat" has by no means bad life of it,
He has his own 'syce" or groom, his grass
cutter and as much ''gram" as is good for
him. At O'Clock in the morning he is to
be seen near the messhouse, saddled and
taiting for the officer, who is inside hav-
ing his morning coffee, perchance n 'B
and s."
As one jumps into the saddle there is no
need to guide the animal, who knows his
rounds thoroughly, but it is as well before
starting to give him few Jumps of sugar
1t is n kindly thought anyway, and the
pony perhaps starts with q quicker gait
for the Quartermaster's stores, where the
orderly officer has to examine the meat
and see that each company gets its proper
weight of rations. The tat" always gets
crust OF two of bread, but otherwise
takes little interest in the proceedings
At n. IN. he tat" takes his daily master
around the barracks and learns whether the
breakfasts are all correct.
AT O'Clock he attends guard mounting
parade, and looks on with q critical eye,
for he knows that the cleanest, best dressed
man will De selected for orderly, and will
have charge of him during certain parts of
the day. After guard mounting the tat"
goes back to his stable and gets his morn
ing meal, and by p. m, when he is wanted
to carry his master around to inspect the
dinners, he looks sleeker and better groomed
than he did in the morning. After it has
been learned that the men have no COM
plants about that meal, the tat" as a rule
visits the guards and sentries.
The sharp inquiry of HALT Who goes
there"' with the answer, Visiting
rounds" and the permission, Advance
visiting rounds and all's WE'LL with the
chatter of arms as the men come to the
shoulder" or post" has no effect upon
him. He appears, however, to put on a
supreme look of surprise when some re-
cruit breaks down in giving the orders of
his post, and cocks his ears incredulously
at the mans stammering
The afternoon, as rule, is time of
rest for the tat, and it is only when the
quarter buge for the tattoo" has sounded
that the officer, grudgingly leaving the
mess table, jumps on his back and makes
the small gee" rattle over the grounds to
the barracks. Tattoo" parade is at 0
p. m, and quarter of an hour later all
lights are out and the tat" returns to his
stable to remain there till some hour after
midnight when it suits the sweet will of
his master to make the nightly visit TO the
guard and sentries and to be sure that
''all's well. New York Tribune.