THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
451 
3. The change from pack to draught can he made in the shortest time, 
and the mules set free by this arrangement can then be employed for 
mounting the gunners. 
The sight consists of a rectangular steel bar on the right side of the gun, 
inclined so as to give 3° deflection. The fore-sight consists of a cylindro- 
conical stud, on the right side of the piece, which is screwed into a 
projection tapped with a screw thread. This arrangement w r as not found 
to be practical; for, from the frequent mounting and dismounting, the 
fore-sight constantly broke off close to the screw socket, and considerable 
delay was caused in extracting the end left in the socket. In order to 
remedy this defect the sight had to be removed during transport, which 
caused a delay in getting the gun ready for action. The incendiary power 
possessed by the double shell issued to these guns is very great, and by 
their introduction into our service the main defect in our mountain guns 
would be remedied. 
Two rocket Y's for Haleys rockets, which had never been used on active 
service before, were attached to each 7-pr. mountain battery, and gave very 
satisfactory results under the circumstances existing in Abyssinia. These 
rockets produced a certain moral effect on these barbarous tribes, partly 
through the fact of their being visible throughout their flight, and partly 
on account of the noise made by the escaping gas; but their actual effect 
is insignificant, chiefly because they have only solid heads. The heavier 
natures of naval rockets have hollow heads, which are filled and used as shells, 
and this principle might perhaps with advantage be applied to the lower 
natures. If such a rocket strikes a hard object before being burnt out, it 
will burst and set fire to any combustible material in the vicinity. As 
yet, the question of rockets has not been solved. In their present state they 
will not be of much use in European wars, but with a few improvements they 
may yet be introduced for mountain service and for flying cavalry columns, 
on account of their great portability, range, and tolerable accuracy. One 
horse can easily carry a Y and from fifteen to twenty rockets. 
Special pack-saddles were made for the transport of the 7-pr. guns, with 
their carriages and stores. The gun is placed transversely on the mule's 
back, and the carriage lengthwise. No delay ever occurred, even in the 
narrowest passes, and the advantage gained by bringing the load nearer 
to the animal's back outweighs all disadvantages. 
The men who served these guns consisted of English artillery soldiers, all 
old hands, and for the most part intelligent men; the non-commissioned 
officers especially, not to mention the officers, gave one the impression of 
a scientifically instructed corps. 
The Englishman is with justice proud of his sailors, and the Commander- 
in-Chief, witli a proper estimation of their qualities and of the national 
feeling in their favour, decided to form a so-called Naval Brigade, to be 
employed in serving two 6-pr. rocket batteries, thus giving them the 
opportunity of showing their countrymen at home that the British sailor 
knows how to behave like a man on shore as well as at sea. Nor did they 
cause any disappointment, for they were quite at home in their new occu¬ 
pation, and formed, in a word, a first-rate corps. 
The most interesting circumstance connected with the 12-pr. Armstrong 
battery was that four of its guns (two remaining at Addigerat) were carried 
