To-day’s Military Visitors.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 44, 21 February 1901, Page 3

To-day’s Military Visitors.

SOME NOTES ABOUT THE TROOPERS.

A.v Auckland correspondent writes : “ The Indian troopers quite throw into the shade our sober-hued khaki boys. There are small fortunes in some of the gorgeous gold-laced uniforms worn by the Indian officers; they would create a great sensation at any fancy dress ball. But those dignified subadars and other fellows with outlandish titles are not mere ball-room warriors. They don’t dance for one thing —they leave that sort of frivolous frolicking for women and their arrays of medals show that their valor and fighting service is beyond dispute. The only fault most critical of Aucklanders, including the ladies, had to find with the troopers was that their thin legs did not come up to European standards; in short, that they had no calves to speak of. They are a woefully spindle-shanked nation, it is true, but they seem quite as firm on their pins as the brawniest-legged Highlander. Perhaps the wearing of puttees for generations of soldiers may have something to do with the diminutive calves, but then the humble ‘ Gunga Dins ’ and servants who accompany the gold-mounted warriors have the same physical peculiarity. An Aucklander, watching the Contingent the other day, remarked that he could get a picked company of Maoris who would be quite as big and fine individually as the members of the contingent, and who would moreover show leg development that would astonish the Orientals. This is tine, but it would be very hard to beat the erect and martial carriage of the tall soldiers from India. It is rather a difficult matter for European hosts to properly entertain their Indian visitors. In the first place, the Indians only drink “ soft ” drinks. Then they won’t eat except by thomselves, and then only fruit, if they are away from their ship or cooking-ground. It is hard for tho avorago Englishman to know what to do with a man who gravely refuses everything, and won’t even have a whisky for the sake of friendship. But in spite of all this, Aucklanders have done their best to give their Indian guests a pleasant week’s stay in Auckland, and tho soldiers have been quick to appreciate tho courtesy and kindness extended to thorn. Montion of the drink question reminds me that the Indians are very much easier to deal with in regard to the ‘ waipiro ’ than their brothers-in-arms the British 1 Tommies.’ It did seem a very narrow-minded action to take up, to refuse a pint of beer to our soldier-visitors. The ploa advanced by the teetotal section of tho Reception Committee, that ‘ Tommy ’ might get 1 tight ’if he had anything ■ to drink stronger than lemonade, was most ridiculous. It is absurd in the extreme to attempt to treat matured soldiers as if they wore incapable of looking at liquor without getting drunk. This sort of thing is very properly resented by tho more liberal-minded portion of the public, as well as by the soldiers themselves.”

Many of the inon aro keeping diaries, taking notes of everything, so that it is quite possible that some of them will publish their impressions of the colonies on their return to India. They want to buy everything that interests them, and one of the officers has purchased three rifles, while another has taken a curious fancy for Australian animals and birds, and has included among his purchases an emu.

The religious observances of the men are always respected by the European officers. One little episode that attracted some attention when camped in the Sydney agricultural grounds was the decapitation and preparation of a sheep for one caste. The Goorkha priest of the eastc, appropriately costumed in black tight-fitting clothes, and armed with a short curved weapon, was the “ executioner.” One servant held the animal by the hind legs while another held it by the head with a rope. After getting the head in the right position, the priest gave one sharp stroko, and the head rolled clear. If the stroke had but partially decapitated the animal it would have been rejected, and another would have been required for the slaughter. The skinning process was accomplished quickly,, and the carcase divided amongst those entitled to it. Many of the men arc vegetarians. Colonel Dadbha, the principal native officer with the troops, wears a very beautiful turban, and across his tunic is'a band, ornamented with gold, in the centre of which is a silver shield, having two sheathed silver arrows attached. This offieor, like all the other Hindoos who can speak English, is highly cultured, having boon trained at Cambridge. Ho is a prince of tho same family as that which adopted Banjitsinjhi, and is married to a cousin of Ranji’s. Though no blood relation to the cricketer, he bears a remarkable resemblance to him.