THE INDIAN TROOPS AT MALTA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 59, 16 November 1878, Page 2

THE INDIAN TROOPS AT MALTA.

Tl.e I)uko ot (imivtsl at Malta on .Jmio Hi. Ha«l 1 In* sli'mmht ;irrivcil oarlior the wholo jiojmlafioii would have lurnod mit to ivcHw him ; hut it was late when the vessel east anehor, an.l it was long after dark when he landed. There was, consequently, no public welcome or excitement. The 42nd Highlanders—the Black Watch—furnished a guard of honour at (lie landing-place. The Duke, w ho was in mufti, entered a carriage and drove direct to the Hoveritor’s i’alacc. Small knots of people were assembled in the square, hut the light was dim, and their curiosity respecting the (’ominandor-in-Chief of the British army was unsatisfied. The Duke was up early next morning, and paid a visit to the forts and camps long before the regulation hoiu at which the salute from the Baud Battery and flagship gave to Malta the official announcement O'his arrival in .lie island. Mis Royal Highness expressed to tlio officers commanding the Indian troops the very great gratification which the cleanliness of the tamps and the order and discipline of the troi.ps afforded liim. During the heat of the day Malta was as ijuiet and sleepy as usual, the sun being hot and glaring and the streets < lusty ; hut towards five o'clock there was a general movement of the whole population towards the Floriana parade-ground where the inspection of the troops was to take place. The Floriana parade-ground lies just outside the walls of the town, (hi two sides it is surrounded bv ramparts, on the other two by dwellinghouses. These latter afford excellent grand stands for the owners and their Wends to view military spectacles on the parade-ground, as their roofs are flat and will accommodate large numbers of spectators. In other respects, a more unsuitable parade-ground for the assemblage of a largo number of troops, it would be difficult, if possible, to find in Her Majesty’s dominions. Its dimensions are not larger than those of an ordinary barrack yard, and anything like mameuvring is absolutely impossible. Indeed, •he troops, to march twice past the .saluting point, me obliged, when they have passed the flagstaff, to march off the ground and make a detour through the streets to come round and take up their position anew, their tactics reminding one of those of a stage army. This, however, wits the only ground available for the pm pose, for Malta is so rough and stonv, and the ground is so divided into small holdings, that it would be actually impossible to find any piece of ground in the open country where a parade on so grand a scale could take place. Within a few minutes of the appointed time His Uo.val Highness, attended by a brilliant staff rode on to the ground, The I hike was in his Held Marshall's uniform, with plumed helmet, and was mounted on a powerful bay horse with a white star on mi> l uvhiNitl. Accoiiijianyitig him w«*ro His Excvlluncy >Sir Arthur iioitou.K.CMl

he newly arrived Oovcruor; Sir Victo ruultun, U.C.M.G., C f 8 the • iovemment; Lieut.-Colonel Crich lon, Grenadier i;. \ taut Militan Secretary number of othe oiliiers. (!em ial Sir < 'harles Von Strati I--M/.I", i!i ■ General conimaiidi . th> II; i lis, nil tlia ail,. 1 Lieut.-li Sir James Airey, and Maj .1 -< reiicral R is wore in command of tlie British ami In dinn divisions respectively, The Indian lm t s had the ) ■■'•< nf hj mow I>l of the line, ami the Duke, us he rod< down them, narrowly inspected them and could not bill have 1 ecu struck "ill their tii:.' and martial appearance. This part of tile ci lemony was so m over, ami t ."••■ h:' ■• -■•' in? up his post at the salut- ;. 1 began. Tin [v. ■ batteries ol Liu- Ist Unmade ami ■1 the Jnd- looking as trim and seriii 1 like as it' on their ground al Woolwich. These were followed hv the Ist 1! hay Lancers, with a sqiiudn'.n of th. -'ml Bombay Light Cavalry. Nothing could be better than the appearand' of tin men on their light, active horses, which have now thoroughly recovered theii spirit and fire. The uniform is a blue tunic, with blue trousers with two white stripes. Their turbans 111 c blue and grew Next came the ilth Bengal Cavalry Lancers, with a squadron of the lOtli. The uniform of these lroo|s is more pic--1 iresque than that of tlieirconirades from Bombay. The head-dress and tunic, are somewhat similar in colour, although not in shape, ami they wear loose salfronLaucer Kegiiucnts me net all armed with lances, these weapons being carried by I lie front rank only, while the rear rank have carbines and swords. Then came the iltli Bombay Lancers, and the -nib. •Ie former in I'Yench grey puggarees, ivith knickerbockers and -alters, tin- latter with Isabella-coloured pugurees. All these line regiments went, past at a walk in columns of squadrons, and the general opinion i-f the military spectators was that in appearance ami martial bearing they .quite vie with our best regiments of British cavalry. Then came the Bombay and Madras Sappers, the former in lew scarlet tunics, tlie latter in dark tunics, and Ijoth with the black trousers i.f Brithh infantry—a line bodyof meu.servieiabl.- and active, accustomed to hard wm-k and not afraid of hard lighting. The infantry then advanced in columns of iv giments, headed by the l:ith Bengal Native Infantry, the I'rince of Wales's Own C-ourkhas, and the :!!st Bengal N.I. Then came the ilth Bumbav N. 1.,' th" 2'.th Madras N. 1.. ami the L'iilh Bombay N.l. All of these infantry regiments with Ihe exception of the 1 i'oiukhas, arc dressed in red tunics ; sonic wear trousers, .'ii-t and Bit'i wntr pug-gales. Tlie-e two splendid l.rig:..!es marched |.:H n.luiirably, their st-adiiu-s* leaving noshing to bo. desired, although the ground was in several places rough and uneven, and likely to disconcert troops areas; 1 only In smooth greensward. The Duke appeared greatly, pleased with their appearance, and ali Ihe European spectators agreed that the order in which ihey inarchcd wasiuaguiiicr-ut. Following th*e Imh 1 . '■■:■ ..j aoie i.he European artillery nf li.. .:■. ■ .1 belonging (•> the 10th and ilth I'ligu I . and ilia Iwo Batteries of ■ \i : i, r-i.. hi - Artillery. The in- ■■■ in !'\ til .11 advanced ill review order, and gave the Boval salute. The Duke then called the "colonels of the various regiments around him, and expressed himself .as greatly gratified al the appearance of the regiments and the mannerin which they had inarched past. European