Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/148

 bamboo, called a bangy. With a horse, three-camels and a Cooly, and a well regulated mess in his regiment, an officer is fit for any campaign, and few enter upon one with less baggage.

4. LINE OF MARCH.—Troops upon the march in India always start very early, so as to be at their journey's end before 8, or before the heat of the day is disagreeable. The reveillie sounds in the darkness of the night, at four, three, or even two in the morning, when every man starts to his feet, and before he has had time to dress, the tent is unlaced, ready to be struck, and before the hour has expired, the whole canvas city is down,packed up, and fast upon the camels. Each regiment forms line upon the front of its own camp; and, when the advance is sounded, takes its place in the order of march. The surgeon falls in in rear of his regiment, along with the adjutant, closely followed by his doolies. The baggage follows in rear of the whole force, and when that is large, the last camel has not left the old camp when the first enters the new, the line of march being one continued stream of beasts of burden. Nor is there the least confusion on the march, nor delay in finding their position in the new camp.

5. CAMP.—Every regiment has its large distinguishing flag; every tent its perch stuck into the place for its pole, all laid off byline and compass the evening before, by the quartermasters of corps, who