“In 1848, when I was Brigade‐Major at Agra, I made a good many inquiries into the condition of the soldier in barracks, their wants and habits,… One day an intelligent sergeant of the 24th came to me on business, and, amongst other questions, I asked him‐ “The men, in this hot weather, are confined to barracks from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. How do they employ themselves during these hours?” “Well, sir, they mainly sit upon their cots and look at each other.””

Major‐General Sir Thomas Seaton, K.C.B. (1806 to 1876) (from Cadet to Colonel, Volume II, 1866)

An Infantry officer who mainly served in India.