The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-08
THE DOGRA SEPO.
TFrom the Indian News.1


OF all the martial races of the north
who furnish recruits for the ranks of
our native army, the Dogras of the
kangra Valley are, undoubtedly, the
least known. The gallant little Gurk-
has, the daring and impetuous Pathans
and the grim warrior Sfkhs have all a
worldwide reputation (the man in the
street at home can tell you all about
them), but the DOgraS, good and Ster-
ling soldiers though they have proved
themselves to be, have not yet attained
a like pinnacle of fame. And yet our
Dogra sepoys have done us equally gal
liant service, as the records of our from
tier expeditions amply prove, and on
many a hard-fought. field have shed
their blood freely for the honor of the
British Raj. A hillman, like the Gurkha.
the Dogra also possesses in measure
the sOldierly qualities of the Sikh and
Pathan, and withaI eXcels all three in
intelligence. The Dogra loves his fair
native hills and valleys as much as the
Pathan tribesman does his rugged fast
nesses, and Dogra sepoys more thrifty
than their spendthrift Pathan COM
rades, save money steadily in order to
return to their homes.
The Dogras are natives Of the hilly
country lying along the base of the
snowy Himalayas, extending from the
Sutlej in the south to the Chenab in
the north. These hill regions consist
of a series of parallel ranges divided
by longitudinal valleys, which increase
gradually in elevation as they recede
from the plains and approach the
snowy barrier which forms the northern
boundary. Here every zone of climate
and variety of vegetation are to be met
with, from the scorching heat and ex-
uberant growth of the tropics to barren
heights destitute of verdure and capped
with perpetual snow The four DOgra
classes which furnish recruits for our
army are the Brahmins, Rajputs, Rath-
ees and Girths, and these four classes
comprise upward of four-fifths of the
entire population of their hills. 1t might
well be ina gined that, on service, the
caste prejudices Of the Dogras would
create difficulties and tend materially
to depreciate their value as soldiers.
This, however, has been proved not to
be the case. For example, the Dogra,
particular as he is about his drinking
water in cantonments, will on active
service cheerfully drink out of a mus
suck
In appearance the Dogra is distinctly
prepOssesSing, his features being well
formed, and his complexion, owing to
the temperate climate of his native
hills, decidedly fair. In stature Do
gras seldom exceed medium height. and
it must be admitted that in bodily
strength and Vigor they compare unfa-
vorably with the stalwart Sikhs and
Pathans. However, their physique and
strength are quite up to the standard
required by our recruiting officers, and
as regards their 1nfer1or1ty in stature
to the latter races, it must be remem-
bered that it is not always the biggest
men who can stand the most fatigue
Marches the Dogras have proved
themselves we'll worthy of confidence,
and the recalcitrant border tribesmen
know to their cost that in them they
have to deal with foes whose martial
instincts are as highly developed as
their own, and who, moreover, in dis
cipline and intelligence are immeasura-
bly, their superiors.
Dogras also enlist in the Bengal cav
airy regiments, and, as a rule, prove
excellent horsemen. A few years ago
the experiment of forming class regi-
ments of Dogras was tried, and the 37th
and 3Sth Bengal infantry became the
37th and 3Sth Dogras. The experiment
has been wholly successful, as the rec
OrdS of both these corps-short though
they be-are extremely fine ones. The
37th Dogras served with credit through
out the Chitral campaign, while the
deeds of the 38th Dogras during the op-
erations of the Mainland field force
are still fresh in our memory. Dogras
seem more suitable than any other race
to form into class regiments, and we
could we'll do with a few more regi-
mentS entirely composed of them. There
is no more loyal and faithful soldier in
the native army than the Dogra, whose
motto and watchword may with truth
be said to be ''Semper Fidelis''
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