Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/57

 therefore recommend all young officers taking the overland route, which they will make in five or six weeks. This will be a much better introduction to the world than a long monotonous voyage at sea.

Medical officers may occasionally get a free passage on condition of performing the medical duties of a ship or a detachment of recruits, particulars of which he will learn at the India House, and he will find the passage-money saved and the head-money of the recruits (15s. a-head) of great assistance on his arrival in the country.

3. WARDROBE.—He ought to be careful not to overload himself with baggage. There are few things that cannot be got as cheap or even cheaper in India than in England at convenient opportunities. He cannot go wrong in taking a well-filled wardrobe; and as to uniform, a forage cap, a shell jacket, blue surtout, and red-striped pantaloons, with sword and belt, patterns of which he can see at any house of agency in London, will answer his purpose till he is certain of his regiment and of its uniform. Lately a standing uniform was ordered for medical officers of all branches; but orders in dress are in India so very variable that it is not easy to anticipate them even for a few months. All will do well to leave their measure and establish a correspondence with some