Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 507

1842.

The Soldier's Manual.

1-3

to report what they hear, but to sift it to the bottom before they can venture to recommend it as the ground of any important measure.

The third section contains some directions about an encampment. Each company, consisting of a hundred men, is ordered to march by its own encampment, and at night to dig a trench of a certain depth and throw up a rampart; that is, to use the fossa and vallum of the Romans as a means of defense against assaults.

On the outside of the trench, stag-horns are to be planted. By which term I suppose an abattis or a chevaux-de-frise is meant, or some other contrivance for obstructing the path of the assailants, for stag-horns are in China used as a specific in pulmonary complaints, and are consequently too expensive for such a purpose. This very useful advice about the construction of a camp is but slightly attended to by the Chinese soldiers now, since, we have not met with more than a breastwork of bamboo hurdles as at Tsz'ki and Changtsz ling, or a low rampart and a shallow trench as at Chápú- in all three instances, bulwarks by far too inconsiderable to be of any use against any western assailants. It is further thought necessary to collect a great many stones, and to pile them up in heaps at the dis- tance of three or four feet from each other, and to prepare many blow. tubes and fire balls. These stones are, I apprehend, to be dropped upon the heads of such as should attempt to storm the camp. The blow. tubes, or as the Malays call them sumpitan, and the fire-balls are des- tined to answer the same purpose. Soldiers are ordered to keep watch by turns, and not to take up their stations too far from each other. Each tent is to be pitched at least more than three feet from the foot of the rampart, and to contain five soldiers. All the military weapons should be laid down by the person of each soldier, who must not be allowed to throw off his clothes and boots at night. The men should sleep upon their bow-cases instead of pillows. If the enemy approaches, the sentinel should twang his bow-string as a signal. Men must be expected to have light slumbers, when the mere sound of a vibrating bow-string is thought sufficient to break the thread of a laboring man's night visions.

Each night the sentries must be set so that each soldier keeps his watch in his turn. They are placed to look out, and to give the watchword in a loud tonc. Sleep is not tolerated; if men are tired or drowsy they should be relieved. Soldiers should speak to each other in a low tone of voice lest they should create alarm. This order is not superfluous as Chinese talk very loud, espe cially when a little excited by the nature of the subject under discus- sion. Great care should be taken of the fire and lights, especially in

Vol. M. NO IX.

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