All these sketches, except "The Sikh" and"The Drabi," were written in Mesopotamia.My aim has been, without going too deeply intoorigins and antecedents, to give as accurate apicture as possible of the different classes of sepoy.In Mesopotamia I met all the sixteen types includedin this volume, some for the first time.My acquaintance with them was at first hand.But neither sympathy nor observation can initiatethe outsider into the psychology of the Indiansoldier; or at least he cannot be certain of hisground. One must be a regimental officer tounderstand the sepoy, and then as a rule one onlyknows the particular type one commands.
Therefore, to avoid mistakes and misconceptions,everything that I have set down has beensubmitted to authority, and embodies the opinionof officers best qualified to judge--that is to say, ofofficers who have passed the best part of theirlives with the men concerned. Even so I haveno doubt that passages will be found that areopen to dispute. Authorities disagree; estimatesmust vary, especially with regard to the relativeworth of different classes; and one must alwaysbear in mind that every company officer who isworth his salt is persuaded that there are nomen like his own. It is a pleasing trait and anessential one. For it is the sworn confraternitybetween the British and Indian officer, and thestrong tie that binds the sepoy to his Sahib whichhave given the Indian Army its traditions andprestige.
All references and statistics concerning theIndian Army will be found to relate to the pre-warestablishment; and no class of sepoy isincluded which has been enlisted for the first timesince 1914. At the outbreak of war the strengthof the Army in India was 76,953 British and239,561 Indian. During the war 1,161,789Indians were recruited. The grand total of allranks sent overseas from India was 1,215,338.The casualties sustained by the force were101,439. Races which never enlisted before enlistedfreely, and the Indian Army List whenpublished on the conclusion of Peace will bechanged beyond recognition.
One or two classes I have omitted. The introductionof