our shell-holes. We
had to walk; it was fasting time and we suffered from thirst. So our
hearts were relieved when we returned to the Regiment. We had all been
reported to Divisional Headquarters as lost. This false report was then
cancelled. The shell-holes in the ground are the size of our goat-pen
and as deep as my height with the arm raised. They are more in number
than can be counted, and of all colours. It is like small-pox upon the
ground.

We have no small-pox or diseases here. Our doctors are strict, and
refuse is burned by the sweepers. It is said there is no physician like
fire. He leaves nothing to the flies. It is said that flies produce
sicknesses, especially when they are allowed to sit on the nostrils and
the corners of the eyes of the children or to fall into their
milk-pots. The young children of this country of France are beautiful
and do not suffer from sickness. Their women do not die in childbed.
This is on account of physicians and midwives who abound in knowledge.
It is a Government order, Mother, that none can establish as a midwife
till she has shown her ability. These people are idolators. When there
is a death which is not caused by war, they instantly ascribe it to
some fault in eating or drinking or the conduct of life on the part of
the dead. If one dies without manifest cause the physicians at once
mutilate the body to ascertain what evil was hidden inside it. If
anything is discovered there is a criminal trial. Thus the women-folk
do not traffic in poisons and wives have no suspicion one against the
other. Truly, Mother, people are only defective on account of
ignorance. Learning and knowledge are the important things.

Your letters come to me with every mail exactly as if we were at
headquarters. This is accomplished solely by knowledge. There are
hundreds of women behind our lines who make clean and repair the dirty
clothes of the troops. Afterwards, they are baked in very hot ovens
which utterly destroy the vermin and also, it is said, diseases. We
have, too, been issued iron helmets to protect the head against falling
shots. It was asked of us all if any had an objection. The Sikhs
reported that they had not found any permission in their Law to wear
such things. They, therefore, go uncovered. It was reported by our
priests for us Mahommedans that our Law neither forbids nor enjoins. It
is a thing indifferent. They are heavier than the pagri [turban], but
they turn falling iron. Do