4 
service, nor can one see any necessity for it, with ns at least, during the winter 
months, during which the troop-horse has a comparatively easy time, and does 
not require to lie down during the day, as a hunter undoubtedly does. It is 
during these months, too, when we are short of men in stables, that the soldier 
requires consideration ; and this plan certainly throws much extra labour on 
him. 
Still, there are times, at Aldershot and elsewhere, when our horses are worked 
really hard, and it is important that every inducement should be given them to lie 
down during non-working hours to save themselves, and more especially their 
legs. Polo players particularly will recognise the truth of this. A pony that 
will only lie down all day on the off days is worth half as much again as a brute 
that won’t. This experiment, therefore, will be of service, if it conclusively 
prove that a good bed may thus be obtained without any risk of injuring the 
horse’s general health. 
I sent this to the Officer Commanding, in case he might have any objection to 
its being published. He was good enough to add the following notes : 
“ The horses are supposed to stand level, and one of the greatest objects is 
warmth. 
The bedding could be kept nearly dry by having a substratum of six inches of 
charcoal, which also acts as a disinfectant. During the summer dry months the 
bedding is, as a rule, dry and very fairly clean.” 
His Adjutant says :— 
“ I think that with a thick layer of charcoal, or even coal ashes (not too fine), 
under the straw, the liquid would be able to drain away, and there would be then 
a good deal to be said in its favour.” 
MTAL, 
The E.A. Mess here, with quarters for four officers and their servants, is in a 
private house in Pietermaritzburg, about a quarter-of-a-mile from the camp; it 
has a very good flower-garden and kitchen-garden, the only grass lawn tennis 
court in the town, and stabling for seven horses ; and the officers are in every way 
far better off than if a mess and quarters were provided for them in camp. The 
cavalry regiment now here is the 3rd Dragoon Guards who arrived from India 
about the middle of October, the 11th Hussars changing stations with them. The 
infantry regiment is the 84th (2nd York and Lancaster), and has a detachment of 
one foot company and half a mounted infantry company at Eshowe, the only 
detachment in the command. One mounted infantry company came into Maritz- 
burg in October, the establishment at Eshowe being reduced to that extent; and 
as no extra barrack accommodation has been provided here all the troops in the 
camp are very closely packed in their huts. Hardly any expenditure on improve¬ 
ments in the camp has been sanctioned for some years, on the supposition that 
the Colony was going to adopt responsible government and that the troops would 
then be withdrawn, but the late elections have resulted in favour of the anti- 
responsibles, so now it is to be hoped that a little of the four million barrack 
vote will find its way out here, as it is badly wanted. 
Major G. W. E. Pulton arrived in the station on the 23rd September to take 
over the command of the battery, Major Eobertspn having got his “ jacket ” and 
gone to India. 
The annual battery sports came off on the 12th November, rain unfortunately 
kept a lot of people away who would otherwise have come, but made it much cooler 
