560 
MARCHING THROUGH JUNGLE. 
Officers’ 
mess. 
Game. 
Stable 
manage¬ 
ment. 
“Chits.” 
Route book 
Route. 
1st week. 
and never failed ns. One portion was in camp and remained as an 
early coffee stall, another portion was ready at the half-way house 
(best known as “ coffee shop,” ) and a third went a-head every evening 
with the battery cooks and was open by the time we reached the new 
camping ground next morning. 
Hassan also made a first class interpreter and provided the milk 
which was guaranteed boiled. We never caught him tripping. 
The mess was run on the usual lines, and our butler deserves the 
greatest credit for the way in which he brought rickety carts over the 
rockiest of roads night after night, hardly ever failing to have break¬ 
fast ready and drinks cooled by the time they were wanted. 
Amongst other game we saw a few panther, but we failed to shoot 
a ny. 
We had three medical officers attached—one at a time—all capital 
sportsmen. 
Going to Rajkot, a veterinary officer accompanied us as well 
but on the longer march we had to do without him. In his absence 
no serious cases occurred, even colic was very rare as the horses sub¬ 
ject to it were all known and treated accordingly. Extra feed was 
given, but, as the quantities necessary naturally vary under different 
circumstances, it is useless to give details. Most batteries doubtless 
carry canvas water troughs; it is difficult to overestimate their import¬ 
ance; sent on overnight they were ready for watering the horses at 
the end of the day's march. Sun jhules were also very efficient in 
various ways. 
The usual certificate asked for by the local headman should be given 
when marching off, or sent back, thus ensuring a report as to whether 
all is correct. 
The question of paying the transport drivers is no easy one. Some¬ 
times all the carts can not be re-placed daily and some have to be 
taken on further; one thing is certain, if a sharp eye is not kept on 
the pay, the drivers will receive a greatly modified portion of the official 
wage. Though marching across country no maps were provided and 
we had, to a large extent, to trust to guides who on various occasions 
failed. A route book twenty-two years old gave a great deal of in¬ 
correct information and could not even be trusted when selecting a 
watering place. The daily distances were seldom accurately given 
and generally turned out longer than was expected. “ Good roads '' 
proved bad tracks, and per contra , once or twice ‘ f rough cart tracks ” 
were found to be metalled roads. 
The route was via Godhra, Dohad, Mhow, Sehore, Bhopal and Bhilsa. 
The general direction was east, Mhow being the most southerly point. 
On 31st January we started on our fifty days march and plunged 
into deep sand barely a quarter of a mile from barracks. The going 
for the first two days was so bad that the byle gharries ( changed 
daily) could not catch us up and the third day out we had to halt to 
wait the arrival of kit. Taken all round, the 1st February was about 
the worst day's march we had. An intelligent guide skilfully led us 
by an alternative road to the one he had pointed out to the “ coffee 
