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would be unable to go far from the roads and supplies. The physical condition of the men, both infantry and -cavalry, is injured by the habitual use of opium.
The soldiers are supplied annually with one red and -white coat decorated with Chinese characters. This one - garment is given free of cost, but for other clothing, even -.the wretched and ridiculous shoes, a deduction is made from the pay. To check desertion, three months' ay is retained every year by the officials on the understanding that the whole amount due will be paid at Urumtsi at the end of the period of service in the province. Non-volunteers are supposed to serve. about. eleven years, and volunteers fifteen to twenty years in Sin-Chiang.
A few years ago some drill instructors trained by foreign officers at Tientsin were sent to the province to improve the discipline, which had (and still has) scarcely - any existence. The Teetai, however, was indignant at the imputation of inefficiency, and promptly dismissed the innovating instructors, stating that the troops under his command were quite effective and not in need of their services.
Musketry practice is seldom engaged in, never without special orders from the Taotai. Ranges of about fifty yards are within the barrack grounds, the targets having a surface about equal to that presented by a man's head. Usually only a small proportion of the men hit the target ; but when the proportion of hits is very small the men who miss are beaten.
Parades and inspections are not frequent. At Kashgar the Teetai is present at only three in the course of the year. Before each inspection the number is raised to that of the establishment, men paid at the rate of 4 to 8 tongas being impressed from the town or market.
Nothing worthy of the name of artillery exists in Sin-Chiang. At Kashgar there are a few old and useless 24
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