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1st Bengal Lancers
(Skinner's Horse) - Returning from a Review
This is not the complete
painting. The whole picture is huge and shows the entire
regiment with the title written at the top: The 1st Regiment
of Skinner's Horse returning from a General Review. The
horizon is curved, not so much like a hill but more as if
it were the curvature of the Earth. It gives the impression
of a powerful group of men bestriding the globe. The regiment
is divided into five rissalahs (squadrons), each one containing
about 60 sowars. We can clearly see the front two rissalahs
here, with parts of two more behind. The men ride on horses
of different colours. They are dressed in winter uniform,
a long skirted yellow coat with a waist-length yellow jacket
with short sleeves decorated with black sheepskin. Under
this they wear dark green overalls strapped under the boot.
They have helmets called khula khuds with adjustable nose-guards.
The native officers have a plume on their helmet and their
short jackets are orange. The men are armed with a matchlock
which is carried on the shoulder. Some of the men carry
lances. Marching on the right flank is the band (see Detail
of Standards). The officers are armed with various weapons
that we can see here, lances, pistols, matchlocks and curved
swords. All ranks carry a black shield on their backs. Behind
each rissalah ride the NCOs, two of which carry two standards
(see Detail of Standards ). In front of the first rissalah
rides Col. Skinner on a brown horse with Major Fraser next
to him (see Detail of Officers). They are followed by two
men on foot, one of whom is a bhisti (water-carrier), the
other is probably the clerk. In front of Skinner the officers
put on a display of fighting skills. One of these is Colonel
Skinner's son, Lieutenant James Skinner aged 19.
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