– which everyone wants to, of course – we shall have to cross just under the peak of the Nojin Kang and that’s a happy 24,000 feet, although the pass ain’t quite that high, thank goodness.’
‘Good heavens. What’s the antidote to mountain sickness?’
‘You will have to ask the medics but from what I have heard the best thing is to take phenacetin with brandy and purgatives, but,’ he grinned ruefully, ‘it ain’t exactly easy to carry out normal bodily functions at that height in that cold. You don’t want to have to chip ice off your arse, so to speak. Obviously, the most efficient antidote is to get down to lower altitudes as quickly as possible. But that’s not easy either. The answer is probably to hang on until you are acclimatised. I presume that you have got snow goggles with you?’
‘Yes, and we picked up the warmest clothing we could find back in Siliguri.’ Fonthill hitched his stool forward. ‘Major, I would be most grateful if you could tell me what sort of force Younghusband and Macdonald have taken with them up into the mountains. It would help me to do my job if I had all the facts.’
The Major looked at him quizzically. He was obviously going to ask ‘and what sort of job would that be?’ but thought better of it. Which was just as well, mused Fonthill, because he was still not completely sure what his duties would be.
‘Certainly, sir. Right. Now,’ he pulled a closely printed long piece of paper towards him. ‘Let’s take the load-bearers first. There are just over 10,000 coolies that are going in relays up to the column and back and, let’s see …’ he added quickly, ‘and just under 18,000 pack animals, ranging from mules to yaks, and even taking in,’ he looked up and grinned, ‘138 bloody buffaloes, would you believe.’
Simon returned the grin. ‘Yes, having looked around outside, I
would
believe. ‘Do you think all of those animals will survive this first climb up to Jelep La?’
‘Wouldn’t think so for a minute. But we are summoning all of the pack animals we can find in the whole of Bengal, Nepal and Sikkim and even further afield. They are not all conditioned to working at those altitudes, you see, and we have just got to suck it and see, so to speak. Apart from that, even the mules have been slipping on the ice and plunging down God knows how many feet to their deaths.’ He shook his head. ‘No army has had to advance and fight at these heights and in these conditions before. It is going to be touch and go, I am afraid.’
‘Hmmm. What about the fighting men. The escort?’
The Major consulted his sheet again. ‘At the moment, some 1,150 soldiers, with four guns and two Maxims. Do you want the breakdown?’
‘If you please.’
‘Right. There is one section of the 7th Mountain Battery, with two ten-pounder screw guns …’
‘Ah, splendid in the mountains but pretty lightweight if we have to pound down rock defences. Anything heavier?’
‘’Fraid not. There are two seven-pounders manned by the 8thGurkhas.’ He grinned. ‘They’re about as old as the late Queen and they are called Bubble and Squeak. Beautiful antiques but not more than that, I would say.’
‘Lord! Go on: infantry?’
‘Six companies of 8th Gurkhas …’
‘Splendid chaps. Couldn’t be better. Fought with them in Afghanistan under Roberts and then along the Khyber in the Pathan Rebellion, some years ago.’
The Major lifted his eyebrows. He had not been quite sure about Fonthill’s background but it was clear that the fit-looking middle-aged civilian sitting before him was a man of some experience. He nodded. ‘Quite agree, sir. First-class fighting men. The Indian army couldn’t exist without them.’
‘I presume there are more?’
‘Oh indeed, yes. There are eight companies of the 23rd Sikh Pioneers.’
Fonthill nodded but frowned. ‘Essential in this territory, of course, but not exactly fighting men.’
‘Oh, I think you would be surprised, sir.
‘Good heavens. What’s the antidote to mountain sickness?’
‘You will have to ask the medics but from what I have heard the best thing is to take phenacetin with brandy and purgatives, but,’ he grinned ruefully, ‘it ain’t exactly easy to carry out normal bodily functions at that height in that cold. You don’t want to have to chip ice off your arse, so to speak. Obviously, the most efficient antidote is to get down to lower altitudes as quickly as possible. But that’s not easy either. The answer is probably to hang on until you are acclimatised. I presume that you have got snow goggles with you?’
‘Yes, and we picked up the warmest clothing we could find back in Siliguri.’ Fonthill hitched his stool forward. ‘Major, I would be most grateful if you could tell me what sort of force Younghusband and Macdonald have taken with them up into the mountains. It would help me to do my job if I had all the facts.’
The Major looked at him quizzically. He was obviously going to ask ‘and what sort of job would that be?’ but thought better of it. Which was just as well, mused Fonthill, because he was still not completely sure what his duties would be.
‘Certainly, sir. Right. Now,’ he pulled a closely printed long piece of paper towards him. ‘Let’s take the load-bearers first. There are just over 10,000 coolies that are going in relays up to the column and back and, let’s see …’ he added quickly, ‘and just under 18,000 pack animals, ranging from mules to yaks, and even taking in,’ he looked up and grinned, ‘138 bloody buffaloes, would you believe.’
Simon returned the grin. ‘Yes, having looked around outside, I
would
believe. ‘Do you think all of those animals will survive this first climb up to Jelep La?’
‘Wouldn’t think so for a minute. But we are summoning all of the pack animals we can find in the whole of Bengal, Nepal and Sikkim and even further afield. They are not all conditioned to working at those altitudes, you see, and we have just got to suck it and see, so to speak. Apart from that, even the mules have been slipping on the ice and plunging down God knows how many feet to their deaths.’ He shook his head. ‘No army has had to advance and fight at these heights and in these conditions before. It is going to be touch and go, I am afraid.’
‘Hmmm. What about the fighting men. The escort?’
The Major consulted his sheet again. ‘At the moment, some 1,150 soldiers, with four guns and two Maxims. Do you want the breakdown?’
‘If you please.’
‘Right. There is one section of the 7th Mountain Battery, with two ten-pounder screw guns …’
‘Ah, splendid in the mountains but pretty lightweight if we have to pound down rock defences. Anything heavier?’
‘’Fraid not. There are two seven-pounders manned by the 8thGurkhas.’ He grinned. ‘They’re about as old as the late Queen and they are called Bubble and Squeak. Beautiful antiques but not more than that, I would say.’
‘Lord! Go on: infantry?’
‘Six companies of 8th Gurkhas …’
‘Splendid chaps. Couldn’t be better. Fought with them in Afghanistan under Roberts and then along the Khyber in the Pathan Rebellion, some years ago.’
The Major lifted his eyebrows. He had not been quite sure about Fonthill’s background but it was clear that the fit-looking middle-aged civilian sitting before him was a man of some experience. He nodded. ‘Quite agree, sir. First-class fighting men. The Indian army couldn’t exist without them.’
‘I presume there are more?’
‘Oh indeed, yes. There are eight companies of the 23rd Sikh Pioneers.’
Fonthill nodded but frowned. ‘Essential in this territory, of course, but not exactly fighting men.’
‘Oh, I think you would be surprised, sir.
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