The names of the officers to whom I am indebted would make a long list. I met them in camps, messes, trenches, dugouts, and in the open field. Some are old friends; others are unknown to me by name; many are unaware that they have contributed material for these sketches; and I can only thank them collectively for their help. For verification I have consulted the official handbooks of the Indian Army; and for certain of my references to the achievements of the Indian Army in France I am indebted to the semi-official history ("The Indian Corps in France," by Lieut.-Col. J. W. B. Merewether, C.I.E., and Sir Frederick Smith) published under the authority of the Secretary of State for India. One chapter, "The Drabi," I have taken almost bodily from my "Year of Chivalry," which also included the story of Wariam Singh; my thanks are due to the publishers, Messrs. Simpkin Marshall, for their permission to reprint it. For the account of the Jharwas I am indebted to an officer in a Gurkha regiment who wishes to remain anonymous. For illustrations my thanks are due to General Holland Pryor, M.V.O., Major G. W. Thompson, and Lieut.-Cols. Alban Wilson, D.S.O., R. C. Wilson, D.S.O., M.C., F. L. Nicholson, D.S.O., M.C., H. M. W. Souter, W. H. Carter, E. R. P. Berryman, and Mr. T. W. H. Biddulph, C.I.E.

Two Indian words occur frequently in these pages. They are izzat and jiwan, words that are constantly in the mouths of officers and sepoys. "Izzat" is best rendered by "honour" or "prestige"; "jiwan" means a "youngster," and is applied to the rank and file of the Indian Army without reference to age. I have kept the vernacular forms, as it is difficult to find exact English equivalents, and much that is homely and familiar in the words is lost in translation.

CONTENTS

PAGE
The Gurkha[1]
The Sikh[26]
The Punjabi Mussalman[49]
The Pathan[63]
The Dogra[92]
The Mahratta[104]
The Jat[115]
The Rajput and Brahman[125]
The Garhwali[138]
The Khattak[149]
The Hazara[159]
The Mer and Merat[170]
The Ranghar[181]
The Meena[188]
The Jharwas[200]
The Drabi[208]
The Santal Labour Corps[217]
The Indian Follower[227]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGE
Havildar Chandradhoj (Rai)[6]
Tekbahadur Ghotam (Khas)6
The Sikh[26]
The Punjabi Mussalman[50]
The Pathan Pipers[64]
The Dogra[92]
The Konkani Mahratta[104]
The Dekhani Mussalman[112]
A Jat Camel Sowar[116]
The Rajput[126]
The Garhwali[138]
The Hazara[160]
The Merat[170]
The Ranghar[182]
The Meena[188]
The Jharwa[200]
Bhil Followers[230]

THE SEPOY