?19 than 20 years) and constitution of the men selected, so that the draft may consist of those best qualified to bear the effects of a change of climate. The Medical Officer is to be consulted in the selection." I made enquiries as to whether the above order is strictly carried out, and I was informed that no young soldier is sent out without having at least nominally passed his drill; but, I believe, as a matter of fact, the great majority of young soldiers have, on arrival, to undergo fresh instruction. I am indebted to the Adjutant General of the Army for the following re- turns. No. I. shows the strength of drafts that have joined their respective corps in the Bombay Command during each of the last 10 years. From want of data it is found impracticable to furnish the ages of the men included in this return, as their regiments have long since left the Command for England and elsewhere. No. II. shows the strength of drafts that have joined the corps now serving in the Command in each year since their arrival in the Bombay Presidency, giving their ages as far as available. From this it will be seen that of the 2,203 men whose ages are recorded, 508 or 23.06 per cent. were under 20 years of age:- " Return showing the Strength of Drafts that have joined the undermentioned Corps in the Bombay Command during each of the last 10 years. STRENGTH OF DRAFTS. CORPS. 1872-73. 1873-74. 1874-75. 1875-76. 1876-77. 1877-78. 1878-79. 1879-80. 1880-81. 1881-82. Total. REMARKS. 3rd Hussars 30 31 11 26 34 51 … … … … 183 The ages of these men cannot be given as these Regiments have long since left the Presidency and there are no records in this office to give the information. 1st Battalion 2nd Foot 43 16 45 36 25 … … … … 165 1st “ 6th “ … … … … … … 1 … … … 1 2nd “ 7th “ … 1 35 42 78 61 124 … 113 … 745 1st “ 8th “ … … … … … … … … … … … 2nd “ 11th, … … … … … 174 90 91 … … 355 2nd “ 17th “ … … … … 186 61 44 206 113 … 610 41st Foot … … … … … … … … … … … 49th “ 78 … … … … … … … … … 78 56th “ 40 19 18 40 … … … … … … 117 59th “ 23 … … … … … … … … … 23 66th ” 30 26 35 34 45 54 226 81 1 … 532 68th “ 77 12 … 67 91 101 … … … … 348 78th " … … ... … … 1 60 81 … 142 83rd “ 41 145 24 56 66 20 96 1 … … 449 108th “ 43 69 116 1 … … … … … 229 Total 405 319 284 302 525 522 748 564 308 3,977 (Signed) E. CUNNINGHAM, Lieut.-Colonel, Officiating Assistant Adjutant General.