THE NATIVE INDIAN TROOPS AT MALTA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5410, 30 July 1878, Page 3

THE NATIVE INDIAN TROOPS AT MALTA.

The 2Sth Madras Native Infantry is an ancient corps, having been embodied at Triohinopoly so long ago as 1777, and it has respectable annals to present. It did gallant service at Seringapatam, Pegu, and Central India. The head-quarters are still located at the town which lends title to the stiff cigars beloved of Anglo-Indians. The scene, when it was read out in orders that the 25th had been told off for service in Europe, was one of indescribable enthusiasm and excitement. The happiness of the men was unbounded. .They had previously, it should be understood,, asked to be allowed to go on the expedition, and now that their request had been granted, they abandoned themselves to a frenzy of delight. Colonel Gib, a tall, bronzed' veteran, straight and wiry, with sharp eye,, cheery voice, and iron-grey beard, is - idolised by his men. He has been five-and-thirty years in India, and has mastered language and habits and idosyncrasies of the. various castes without having’ lost, in one iota, the dash of the British officer. It is easy to understand that such leaders should have a strong hold on the affections of those they command, as well as a firm control over them. When Colonel Gib stood out on the parade-ground, and asked his lads of’the 25 th if they were willing to go abroad ,to‘ serve the Queen, as with one voice they shouted “Yes.” “Heady to go at once?" continued the colonel. “ All.ready,” was the answer pealed out in chorus. “ Weil, I don’t know .where we’re going, recollect." “We don’t care” was the cry, loud and cordial. “Will you go to Yebennum!" “Yes, we’ll follow you anywhere,” was the unanimous reply. And yet these cheerful fellows, so ready for duty beyond the kali paid, those mysterious dark waters dreaded'of Hindoo 3 , have family ties. They have been stationed eight years,at Cannanoro, and had wives and children there, but they are arc prepared to part from them at the prospect of a brush with an enemy—for it would bo fruitless t« conceal that foreign service was accepted as but another phrase for hard fighting. An idea is absolutely prevalent among these Madrasses that the Russians are in England, and that they aro coming to help their masters to drive the invaders out. The officers know this, but such is the delicacy of the Sepoys that they will not broach the subject in their officers’ hearing lest they should offend their susceptibilities. On arriving at Port Said, among the first questions asked by those of the 25th who understood Arabic or English was this—“ Whoro.aro tho Russians?” They were under tho impression that the Russians were to bo met somewhere In this neighborhood ; they did not hide from those who conversed with them their elation at the confidence reposed in them, and expressed the hope that when they had thrashed .the onemy—which was a matter of course—they would bo vouchsafed a sight of the Queen, Nor is this feeling confined to this particular regiment. When tho 15th was asked for volunteers to make up the 25th to its strength, tho entire corps stepped forward. Throe times they were informed that tho whole regiment was not wanted, . and three times the whole regiment persisted in coming to tho front to signify its willingness to accompany its fortunate brothers iu arms of tho old 25 th. In tho end tho colonel was forced to pick out the hundred volunteers required. And this it is stated, and tho statement may bo believed, is the spirit which aidmated the Sepoys of tho entire Presidency.

The effective of the 25th is 722, and as it may be taken as a fair specimen of amative infantry regiment, it will bo interesting to enter into some details of its composition. Ox European officers the usual establishment is seven, thus divided :—One commandant, two wing commanders, four wing -officers,* ami oae medical officer. This number is wholly inadequate in active service, especially as'European officers are always on horseback and offer au easy target to 'sharpshooters in these days of arms of precision. A native regiment without its European officers is a trunk without a head. It is well, therefore, that the 25th lias eleven ; and it would be better if they were dispensed from tho fictitious necessity of provoking the enemy’s , riflemen on a false point of honor. There are eight companies in each regiment,and to each of these theroisanativesubadar, or captain,who is responsible for the interior economy and the good order iu the lines of his company. There are, in addition, eight jemadars, or lieutenants. The havildars, or sergeants, are 40; tho naiques, or corporals, 40; tho drummers, 16; and the sepoys, 600. There is a non-effective staff of seven, namely, the subadar major, one drill havildat, one pay havilday, one fife major, one adjutant, one drill naique, and one drum major. There are 244 Moslems in the corps, and 50 native Christians ; the rest are Hindoos of sundry castes. It has been frequently made matter for reproach to the Madrassees that moving a regiment of them is like to moving an army. When they change from one cantonment to another, for every Sepoy there are five relatives, even to remote degree sometimes. This has been altered. Thelistof camp foil ewers on thopresent occasion is strictly limited. There are but four packallies (men who carry water on bullocks) aud ei"ht bheosties, or ordinary water-carriers; but, on the other hand, there are eighty-six dhoolio bearers. A dboolie, with apologies to a certain graphic writer, is not a ferocious tribe, but a stretcher for tho wounded, aud the dhoolie bearers are ambulance men. The uniform of the men is picturesque. The habit they wear on board ship, fatigue jackets and loose serge trousers, is the merest of undress; but in the pomp aud circumstance of guard mounting or of a field day they sport a scarlet tunic with sky-blue facings, black cloth trousers with red stripe, and cap with red border, somewhat similar to the undress cap of the artillery. The officers wear white pith helmets with red puggaree, which has a pleasing effect. The average age of tho rank and file of the 25th is 28, and their average height sft.. 7in. The men have the slender figure of Asiatics, but look fit ; they are very clean, and their arms—Sniders —and accoutrements are in beautiful order. The 25th Madras may hereafter claim to have inscribed on its colors Primus in, Europa, and if its appearance and conduct in the future only correspond to the present the distinction will pass to no unworthy recipients.