The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-06-23
Equipment and Discipline of Black


 meal, in variably place his hand on hugely extended stomach, and, with a smile on his face. say, "Babu binchi'' (No food).
 The bases from which the expeditions are fitted out and start arc at Sierra Leone, Accra, AXim, Gold Coast, with its military headquarters at Coomas' sic; Lagos and northern and southern Nigeria, with their respective bases at Lokoja and Calbar the whole com prising the West African Frontier Force, under the Colonial Office, and officered by officers seconded from their respective regiments from all parts of the British Empire.
 The fitting up of an expedition is by no means such a long and difficult un- dertaking as the uninitiated would SUD- pose, for the active service kit of the West African native soldier is by no means large or luxurious one. It consists of:
 blanket and cloak Ca waterproof sheet is now often carried instead of one or both of the articles.) khaki shirt.
 1 pair khaki knickers. 1 pair sandals.
 pair puttees.
 Rifle and bayonet, belt, haversack, sc.
 The officer himself is at the most al- lowed only seven carriers; the load th1t each carries may not exceed sixty pounds. This total of APO pounds en- braces provisions for perhaps two months camp equipment, such as bed, bath, cooking utensils, &c,, and does not permit, as can be readily imagined, of the inclusion of any unnecessary articles. No more odd spectacle can be imagned than to see a column of these fine sWarthy negroes marching along in Indian file, as most of the paths are not broad enough for any other way, each carving, in most cases, his rifle and perhaps a yam or two balanced on his head. It matters not whether the load be of sixty pounds or a box of matches, for preference he will carry it on his head. Naturally In a country such as this, where the rainy season is of such long duration, expeditions into the interior can only be undertaken between the months of December and May, which is the dry season.
 So many tribes are recruited from, 1t would be too great a task. to enumerate the various types fully, In northern Mi geria the Hausa is chiefly enlisted. He is Mchammedan and is born fighter The battalion at Lagos is also mainly composed of Hausas, who come down trading from Kano, Sokoto, Zaria and
 the Fulani, who is-though not so ar other up-country places. Then there Is dent soldier as the Hausa, being us- ually engaged in cattle ra4sing-in fea- lures and color quite different from the Hausa.
 The Yomba, who comes from the Lagos Hinterland, is inclined to be more cheerful disposition than the Hausa, and is a much cleaner soldier, enjoying when possible a daily wash, to which the Hausa, like most other natives, has usually no great affinity Though 1t cannot be said that the Yarnba is @ better fighter than the Hausa, he has the very desirable quail fication of remaining steadier under fire, so that it is best when possible to operate with a mixed body of Hausas and Yambas. The maintenance of order and discipline is difficult task with such bodies of men, and it needs one possessing a good temper patience and tact at the head of affairs.
 One strong point in favor of the West African soldier is that he does not
 bear malice for any punishment in1ict- ed upon him. His confidence in the justness and impartiality of the Ba- turf (white man) is so strong as to quite obliterate any feelings of resent ment The usual answer given to the question, Are you fit to do" a certain
 thing, put to a soldier, is "Supposin' you tell me make I so do, so, I go do | so,"
 Taking into consideration the fact that the West African soldier receives
 the same pay as the British imperial
 soldier, i. e., i shilling per diem, with I shilling per diem good conduct pay, and is really more generously treated in the way of kit, his lot is by no means a poor one, since he can
 support himself and his family on
 about 8 pence per diem. Nothing could
 better illustrate the unhealthiness of the climate in these parts than the granting by the Colonial Office of four months leave, not counting the voyage to and fro, after every twelve months residential service out there on full pay. And it is a hard matter to get permis- sion, should one desire it, to remain a
 short while overtime. A medical ex- animation is held and it rests entirely with the doctor as to whether the ap- .nlinn,,t ic rnc..rnniktnd a dn sn mi.