The orders are out for the invasion of Bootan. The
force is to consist of two wings of British infantry, six regiments of native infantry, 1,000 drilled coolies, two batteries of artillery, and two companies of Sappers and Miners, or about 9,000 men in all. A great effort is being made to limit the number of camp followers, only one servant being allowed to each officer, but the number of bullocks, mules, and yahoos required to carry ambulances, water, forage, ammunition and provisions for fifteen days, will be enormous, and every pair of animals will require one man. Tents are forbidden, and the whole force is to enter Bootan, as far as an Indian force can, stripped for action. Extra blankets will be supplied to the men, but that seems to be all the precaution taken against the cold, which by December will be bitter ou the hills. The proportion of sepoys employed seems to be very large indeed.
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