be made of felt, strengthened and protected by metal mountings; light flexible chain straps would suffice for the shoulders; and for both sword and bridle arm, a gauntlet on the plan of the native dastanah would be invaluable. The want of such protection at present is undoubtedly calculated to take from the confidence of the troopers, who well know how easily and completely they can be paralyzed by a cut across either arm from an adversary's tulwar. We are aware that there are military it as an useless incumbrance in itself, and a sign of writers who scoff at the use of any defensive armour, looking upon over caution if not of pusillanimity. But Cromwell's Ironsides were scarcely open to the latter imputation, and they did not find their steel casque or breast and back plates an incumbrance, and Jacob's Horse at present wear quite as much armour as has been suggested.

The last defect is the erroneous designation of the Regular Cavalry, which although in reality the Heavy or Reserve Cavalry of the army are from their title of Light Cavalry, expected to perform duties for which they are really unfit, and that too when there is a numerous force of really Light Horse available for the purpose. The Regular European or Native Cavalry are quite unfitted to cope with the native horseman in individual combat or when employed as skirmishers, although possessing immense advantages when acting in the mass; for these reasons they should be held in reserve and spared through a campaign, so as to be let loose when really required with full effect.

As light men are not so indispensably necessary for Reserve as they are for Light Cavalry, there is no objection to the weight of the European for that branch, and as the duties of this arm are more suitable to the European than the Native, the latter requires to be brigaded with a larger proportion of Europeans than their brethren of the Infantry. On these grounds every Brigade of Regular or Heavy Cavalry should consist of half or at the least one third Europeans. To admit of this with due regard to the expense and to the small proportion of this description of force which can conveniently be maintained, it would be advisable to reduce a portion of the native establishment, replacing it by European details, not so numerous, but equivalent to the same or nearly the same cost. It must be taken into consideration that although the European is much more expensive than the Native Infantry Soldier, such is not the case in the Cavalry, as the horse, his keep and equipments are then the great item of expense, and this need not cost more in the one case than the other. Moreover the want of a proportion of European Cavalry in the service is much felt at present, if only to furnish qualified European non-commissioned staff to the native Regiments, in which a larger proportion of this useful class might be beneficially employed.

Turning now to the Irregular Cavalry, we must also admit that although their reputation as an effective body stands higher in the general opinion of the service at large, than that of the Regular branch, they are not without their share of defects. It has however been unfairly urged against them that, although they have acquired a better name than the Regulars, their services have after all been confined to minor affairs, and that they have never distinguished themselves in any large body in general action. This may be literally true, as Brigades or Divisions of Irregulars are not employed in mass, although single Regiments have done right good service on several occasions. But even if true to the fullest extent, it would be no reproach; as these Corps are the real Light Cavalry, the eyes and feelers not the strong arm of the service, and their duties are those ordinarily performed in small parties, of outposts, reconnoitering, skirmishing, and protecting or harassing convoys or foragers, -not those of the grand crash or decisive charge at critical moments. Heretofore they have generally been usefully employed in their legitimate duties, and any attempt to make Regulars or Dragoons of them is only likely to impair their efficiency. We do not doubt their ability to make a right home charge if necessary. As an instance, Jacob's Horse, under Lieutenant Malcolm made such an one upon the Affghan Horse at Guzerat, which H. M's. 9th Lancers, who looked on, must have envied. But we consider that each branch has its particular duties, and the charge is more likely to be made with effect by the heavy mass of Regulars carefully spared and kept fresh for the purpose, than by the light Irregulars, who must always be fully, if not over worked during a long campaign.

The real defects of the latter branch in Bengal, are the inferior description of horse on which they are generally mounted; the fact that the best class of men for the purpose will not always take employ, their addiction to plundering on service, and lastly their general indebtedness. But these are all attributable to one main cause, and that is their very inadequate pay. Common sense has ratified the sacred axiom that "the labourer is worthy of his hire," but in this particular instance the Indian Government appear to have ignored it. The Sowar in the Bengal Irregular Cavalry receives for his own services and the supply of uniform, arms and equipments, as also for the services and keep of his horse, the sum of 20 rupees! the lowest sum that in former days was given for the keep of the horse alone. This amount is notoriously insufficient, and the consequence is that as the men cannot on that sum afford to pay for good horses, commanding officers are often compelled to wink at the admission of very inferior cattle; hence the Sowar is always in debt, and hence

too, on service, when his expenses are greatest, he cannot resist the temptation to feed or equip himself or his horse gratis. All writers on this subject unanimously admit this fundamental evil, and all recommend an increase of pay varying in amount up to 30 Rs. In the Nizam's and Jacob's Horse the pay is much higher than in Bengal, and hence their great superiority in cattle and equipments, as also in a better class of men, who readily seek service in these Corps. We do not however consider any very great increase necessary. Twenty-four rupees would we think be sufficient and enable the Sowar to provide a serviceable horse of fair regulation size and value, to pay a liberal sum for the Assammi if a Khudaspa, and to also keep out debt. The proposed sum of twenty-four rupees has the advantage of being easily divisable, one-third, or eight rupees to be considered the pay for the man, and two-thirds or sixteen for the horse. As rupees eight is the present pay of the Trooper in the Regular Cavalry, who is found in everything, the same sum cannot be deemed too much for the Sowar who has to find everything himself.

This increase should of course be proportionate in the other grades. Government ought moreover to supply percussion carbines, which would be a very acceptable indulgence and insure uniformity in the armament of the different Regiments which is not the case at present. Were this increase sanctioned, the commanding officer could afford to be strict as to the admission of horses, and the Regimental Koti or Bank might be abolished. If the additional expense is an insuperable objection, let it be obviated by a proportionate reduction either of whole Regiments or the strength of Corps. 500 sowars is the present complement of each Regiment, giving an average of about 83 per Ressallah. If it was reduced to 72 per Ressallah or 432 per Regiment in time of peace, this would nearly meet the extra expense, and it should be borne in mind that this is the description of force most easily increased in time of war.

The Irregular Sowar should be placed on the same footing as the Regular trooper in regard to pension, as notwithstanding the designations, both are equally regular servants of the State, exposed to the like chances of war and rendering equal service.

The existing restrictions upon the Barghir system are we consider objectionable. We are aware that the theory of a Corps of Khudaspas is popular with some officers in the service, and that by many the Barghirs are considered less trustworthy; but we believe this to be erroneous and that under proper management the Barghir will be found equally true to his salt. We have already in this article shown how nobly Skinner's Khass Ressallah -all Barghirs-behaved. We confess that we have little faith in the superior excellence of a corps exclusively composed of Khu

daspas or Sillidars; we consider a mixture preferable, and we quite agree with Major Jacob that the one-horse Sillidar is likely to be poor and his horse less cared for and worse fed than those of a three-horse Sillidar, whom we also believe, with him, to have no fellow for efficiency. But at the same time we would rather sce the question left free and let the arrangements find their own level, merely fixing certain restrictions as regards the commissioned officers, European and Native, and enforcing a division of all the Sowars into parties of three with a yaboo, tattoo or mule, and a servant to each triad; such division to be made to suit the wishes and convenience of the men; to effect this it would only be requisite to keep the roster and regulate all detached duties in details of threes.

No further changes would, we think, be necessary to render the Bengal Irregulars second to no Light Cavalry in the world.

Having thus glanced at the apparent defects of the two branches, and stated what we venture to consider would be remedies or improvements, we will in conclusion give a brief outline, which must in some measure be a recapitulation, of what we conceive would be a fitting establishment of Cavalry for this Army.

To do this, it is necessary in the first instance to consider to what extent and for what purpose Cavalry are required in this country.

In Europe somewhat arbitrary proportions for the different arms have have been laid down by military writers, but these are rather theoretical than practical, and vary in every campaign according to circumstances and necessities. In India, where horses are numerous, their keep cheap, the country generally level and a large portion of the inhabitants good horsemen, Cavalry has usually formed a large portion of the Native Armies opposed to us, and in our more serious campaigns we have always found it necessary to increase this arm in our own service. The Cavalry hitherto, or likely at any future time to be, arrayed against us, was and will be entirely Light or Irregular; and to cope with these, not so much in the battle field as in the neighbourhood, an efficient force of Light Cavalry is requisite; and as we cannot expect to match our enemies in number, we must compensate for this deficiency by superiority in organization and equipment. At the same time it is also necessary to have an irresistible body of Heavy Reserve Cavalry to bear down any masses of hostile horse or foot against which it may, on special or critical occasions, be advisable to hurl them. This force, which must necessarily be costly and can only be occasionally employed, need not be numerous, provided its composition is really efficient; to insure which, from a half to a third should be Europeans, and the Native portion the elite of their class. Here then is our requirement,-a small, compact and

most efficient body of Reserve or Heavy Cavalry, and a much larger proportion of really light, active Horse. This requirement would be fully met by a Division of European and Native Dragoons, and half a dozen Brigades, or 18 Regiments-the present number —of efficient Irregular Horse; the latter being capable of further increase in time of war.

We have now 10 Regiments of Regulars-miscalled Light Cavalry-of handy and convenient strength and composition. From these we would select three-fifths of the best men, and form them into six Native Dragoon Regiments, and raise two new corresponding Regiments of European Dragoons. The latter having a double complement of officers would absorb the establishments of the four Native Regiments reduced, and cause no charge or increase of expense on that score; and as the two European Regiments would cost considerably less than four Native Corps, there would be a saving thus created, which might advantageously be applied to the improvement of the Light or Irregular Cavalry. There would also be a thousand horses to spare for other purposes. The present moment is particularly favorable for such a measure, as the peace will leave abundance of ready trained material available in Europe, including the Cavalry of the German and Italian Legions.

As the present proportion of only one Royal Dragoon Corps is unusually small, and may be considered the minimum we are ever likely to have on this side of India, the Division on its lowest footing would then consist of 3 Brigades, each of 1 European and 2 Native Regiments; any addition to the number of Royal Regiments, not exceeding three, could at any time be made, which would give Brigades of 2 Europeans and 2 Native Regiments each.

It has been a favorite plan with several distinguished Generals and military writers to train Cavalry to act either on horse or foot, and the term Dragoon is generally understood to mean a bifarious soldier of this description.. Practically, however, the plan has never succeeded, and the result has been inefficiency in both capacities. But many instances have occurred in which dismounted Cavalry have done good service on particular occasions, and it is doubtless a great advantage to a General to be able to send his Cavalry rapidly to a distance to secure a ford, seize a post or important position, and by dismounting half their numbers to hold the same until Infantry can arrive to their assistance. In cantonment, standing camps, and during sieges, dismounted Cavalry when not required in their legitimate capacity can always relieve the Infantry in many duties. As it is an object to render these expensive troops as generally useful as practicable without impairing their efficiency, we would suggest that