,554 Memarks on the Abstract Tables ^ 8^c, [No. 36, 



VI. Remarks on the Abstract Tables showmg the number of 

 Native Soldiers discharged from the Madras Army, during 

 the five ijears from 1812-3 to 1846-7 inclusive. By As- 

 sistant Surgeon Edward Balfour, of the Right Honorable 

 the Governor's Body Guard, 



In the five years from September, 1842, to August, 1817, inclusive ; 

 2,149 of the Madras Native Army were discharged the service. A 

 cursory examination of the causes which led to their discharge shows 

 that crime, disease, and natural physical unfitness were the chief 

 agencies in operation : we cannot, however, ascertain the exact 

 share that each of these causes had, for, of the 2,419 individuals who 

 have been in this manner removed from the strength of the Army, of 

 1,077, or nearly the half of them, no mention was made, in the month- 

 ly discharge rolls, of the crime or cause which had led to their dis- 

 missal. Had this omission not occurred the records would have 

 furnished a sufficient number of facts to admit of many more practi- 

 cal deductions than they now allow ; but, even as they are, they sup- 

 ply information of a nature calculated to assist us in the selection of 

 recruits, the repression of crime, and the internal economy of the Army. 



Although dismissal or discharge from the service is more frequent- 

 ly had recourse to in the Native Army of India than amongst H. M. 

 soldiers, the military code admits of several other punishments. 

 The Articles of War in force, Avhen these rolls of discharged men 

 Avere for the first time published, were promulgated in the year 

 1827, and contained 82 articles, 43 of which specified crimes 

 punishable by Military Courts, and the punishments which the lat- 

 ter could award. These punishments were death ; corporal pun- 

 ishment; stoppage of pay and allowances ; fines ; dismissal ; reduc- 

 tion ; and forfeiture of pension. This code continued in force until 

 1845, but it was greatly altered by the Governor General's order 

 of the 24th February, 1835, by which corporal punishment in the 

 Native armies was prohibited, and discharge from the service sub- 

 stituted for it; and it was still further altered by the penal act of 

 1839, sanctioning, along with their discharge from the service, ini^ 

 prisonment, with or without hard labor. 



In this code, of 1827, there were 15 articles specifying crimes for 

 which Military Courts could award sentence of death, but, as the 



