xxi THE MILITARY AND POLICE FORCES 209 



In 1905, owing to the arrival of a reserve battalion, 

 the 1 st Kings African Rifles, the strength of the 

 3rd battalion was reduced to eight companies. In this 

 year the battalion was re-armed with '303 Martini 

 Enfield rifles. 



In 1907 a further reduction of two companies was 

 effected. 



In 191 1 the strength of the battalion was raised by 

 the addition of one company. 



In 191 2 the strength of the battalion is as follows : — 



24 British officers. 

 1 Warrant officer. 

 7 Companies of 125 rank and file. 



These are distributed : — 



At Nairobi .. ... 2 companies, 



On the Northern Frontier 1 company, 

 In Jubaland ... ... 4 companies, 



while there are in addition two companies of the first 

 battalion stationed in the Protectorate. 



With regard to the Personnel. — The Soudanese 

 have always been looked upon as the mainstay of the 

 battalion, but it becomes every year more difficult to 

 keep them up to strength. The fighting qualities of 

 this race are well known : they form without doubt 

 the finest fighting material in Africa. During times 

 of peace they are somewhat apt to give trouble, to 

 which their womenkind are absolutely certain to add. 

 The latter are of very powerful physique and of 

 villainous temper, and it speaks wonders for the 

 Soudanese men that they are able to impose on their 

 womenkind the amount of subjection that they do. 

 The male Soudanese, though all wire and whipcord, 

 are usually of light build. 



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