nks ten years ago, and
allowing as a general principle that where a frontier expedition of any
size takes place the bulk of the regular mule transport of the army in
India is required for it, we can take it that at the age of six he had a
rough breaking-in to war conditions in Chitral; that, after a year or so
of peace, he carried convoy stores or troops' baggage over many weary
marches in the Malakand or the Tochi valley, or in Tirah. In 1900, as
likely as not, he was entrained one hot midsummer day, carried off to
Calcutta, and shipped to China. As an alternative he may have been
wanted in South Africa. Later on he very probably served in the Mahsud
blockade. Between whiles he has had a few spells of cantonment life, but
has probably spent his hot weathers daily carrying the needful water
supply up to some hill station, perched on a hilltop, from a reservoir
two thousand feet below, and a portion of his cold weathers in the
feverish sham warfare of manoeuvres. All the time he has preserved the
same dogged, cheery temperament, getting out of the train at the base of
an expedition, seeing there the familiar sights that portend field
service, then having a good roll in the dust, getting up and shaking
himself, as though to say, 'Here we are again,' like the clown in the
pantomime; or plodding along through rain or snow or hot weather
duststorm with two maunds on his back, and only wondering casually what
will be the next practical joke which his masters will perpetrate on
him. His is a rough lot, but he takes it kindly, and with good grain and
fodder is not unhappy.

The mule driver also is a man of parts. Compare him with that fine
soldier--the cavalryman. The former has to feed, groom, fit and clean
the gear of, and sometimes forage for, three or four animals instead of
one, as is the case of the latter. Further, the cavalryman mounts his
beast, while the mule driver marches on foot.

The case of the mule and his attendant came before the Government of
India a few years ago, who decided to improve their status. They have
since accomplished a great deal by introducing an organised corps system
among Indian transport. The system was worked experimentally for some
years, and is now an authorised and accomplished fact. The mule and his
driver, instead of, as was formerly the case, being no men's children in
particular, belong to their troop, to their subdivision, and to their
corps. Every corps is distinguishable by its u