§ SIR ANDREW SCOBLEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, whether, in addition to papers relating to the recent operations in Chitral, he will lay upon the Table of the House Papers relating to the establishment of a British Agency at Gilgit.
§ * LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe papers asked for will be included in the Blue Book.
§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, what is the monthly pay of the Indian soldiers and carriers, who are stated to have received 15 rupees (16s. 4d.) as a reward for conspicuous gallantry and devotion during the Chitral Campaign; and whether Her Majesty's Government propose to increase these rewards?
§ * LORD GEORGE HAMILTONAccording to the general order issued 533 by the Government of India, certain carriers attached to the 14th Bengal Infantry Regiment will receive as a reward three months' pay; but I am not able to state accurately what is the amount of their pay. The matter is one which Her Majesty's Government must leave to the discretion of the Government of India. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTsaid, that he understood that that was the amount of the reward that was offered to some of the soldiers.
§ * LORD GEORGE HAMILTONNo. I understand that three months' pay was given as a reward to certain soldiers and water carriers, and that some ingenious gentleman has calculated the amount according to the rate of exchange current in London. ["Hear, hear," and laughter.]