448 A SPORTING TRIP THROUGH ABYSSINIA 



commanded by a captain with' -^two subaltern^ under him, all Italian. 

 There is no lack of irregular cavalry, the natives being, as it were, 

 born to the saddle, and their horses capable of splendid work across 

 the rough ground of the plateau, which no doubt explains the weakness 

 of the establishment in this arm. 



Artillery. — The two batteries of mountain artillery consist of six 

 guns each ; there are a captain and three subalterns (Italians) to each 

 battery, assisted by two Italian N.C. officers and a farrier. The 

 remainder of the men are natives, and are carefully selected from the 

 Mohammedan recruits, who are chiefly Somalis. The commanders of 

 guns are natives, and the whole working of the gun, such as laying, 

 graduating the fuse, etc., is performed by natives. There are more 

 guns kept in store, also a battery of quick-firers, which would be 

 mobilised in case of war. 



Infantry. — -The three Italian companies are each 200 strong, with 

 a captain and three subalterns. The men are volunteers from the 

 Italian army, and are enlisted for two years. 



The native battalions were formerly seven in number, but the sixth 

 battalion, which was composed chiefly of Mohammedans, and was 

 quartered at Kassala, was disbanded when that place was handed over 

 to the Anglo-Egyptian Government, and many of the men took service 

 under that Government. 



The unit of the native battalion is a buluc, or section consisting 

 of twenty-eight ascaris or soldiers, and one muntaz or corporal, under 

 a buluc bashi or native sergeant. Three bulucs go to form a half 

 company, under a native officer (jusbashi), who acts as second in 

 command to a white subaltern officer. The whole company is 

 commanded by an Italian captain. 



A major (or lieutenant-colonel) commands each battalion of four 

 companies, and is assisted by an adjutant-major, a medical officer, 

 and a supernumerary officer. 



A few mounted infantry (on mules) are trained with each battalion 

 to act as scouts. 



In each company two bulucs are composed of Somalis and four of 

 Tigreans, so that a regiment has two-thirds Christians to one-third 

 Mahommedans. 



Jusbashi is the only officer's rank to which a native can aspire. 

 He carries an officer's sword, but is not allowed to give orders of any 

 kind to a white soldier. 



