ENGLISH SOLDIER'S EQUIPMENT. 23 



divested themselves of those old-fashioned ' pipeclay ' 

 trammels, only calculated, when on service, to impede 

 the movements and check the brilliant valour of the 

 British troops. Tight tape-laced coatees (scarlet in 

 leprosy) were cast aside, and shell-jackets, well patched 

 with leather, generally speaking, had become the order 

 of the day. Blue dungaree trowsers were substituted 

 for white prolongations. The heavy knapsack had been 

 left at head- quarters, and was replaced by a small canvas 

 bag loosely slung across the right shoulder. Few stiff, 

 leather dog-collars, most appropriately called ' stocks/ 

 now answered the roll; and the crown of that very 

 essence of discomfort and uselessness yclept the ' chako ' 

 being kicked out, had made way for the rather more 

 sensible head-dress of the ' forage-cap ; ' whilst, horrible 

 to relate ! many a sunburnt, weather-beaten English 

 phiz, long a stranger to razor or soap-suds, and spite of 

 ' whisker * regulations, wildly peeped through a bushy 

 jungle of untrimmed beard and luxuriant moustache, 

 which, though rather, it must be admitted, brigand-like 

 appendages, were undoubtedly found more comfortable 

 by the respective wearers than an equal proportion of 

 sores or blisters, with which the ' pale faces were sure 

 to be covered if deprived in this fiery clime of that pro- 

 tection so kindly afforded by Nature/ 



" The above is, generally speaking, a correct repre- 

 sentation of the British soldier when on actual service ; 

 and only shows how completely unfitted are his every- 

 day dress and appointments (though perhaps well enough 

 adapted to the household troops) for the roughing of a 



