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 1911 the strength of the battalion was raised by 
the addition of one company. 
In 1912 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. 
