Atta[1]      12 chittacks [2]
Dall[3]       2 chittacks
Ghi[4]        1 chittack
Salt          1/3 chittack
Meat          1 lb. bi-weekly
Rum           1 dram  "      ]

It has been found throughout the campaign, even when the men were employed upon hard work, that ‘12 chittacks’ of ‘atta’ daily are amply sufficient for the Native troops, supplemented, as of late, through the liberality of Government, by a bi-weekly issue of 1 lb. of meat.  In a climate like Afghanistan, where the inhabitants are all meat-eaters, this liberality has been most wise.  Every endeavour was made, before this sanction was granted, to supply the Native portion of the force with meat on payment, and I attribute to this in great measure the sound health and excellent stamina which they now exhibit.

With regard to the issue of rum, I would suggest that it should not be issued free to Native troops, except under exceptional circumstances of fatigue and weather, but that the Commissariat Department should be authorized to have in store a sufficiency of rum to admit of a bi-weekly issue to such troops as drink the spirit, on payment, and then only on the recommendation of the Medical Officer, and under the sanction of the General Officer commanding.  On all occasions when rum is sanctioned, either free or on payment, those who do not partake of spirits should he allowed a ration of tea and sugar under similar conditions.

27.  The scale of rations for Native followers requires no alteration.

[Sidenote:  Daily ration of European soldiers: 

Meat             1-1/4 lb. 
Bread            1-1/4 lb. 
Vegetables       1-1/4 lb. 
Rice                 4 oz. 
Salt               2/3 oz. 
Tea                3/4 oz. 
Sugar                3 oz. 
Rum                  1 dr.]

28.  The European rations now under issue in Kabul are as per margin, and with reference to them I would make the following remarks:  The increase of 1/4 lb. in bread and meat is, in my opinion, very desirable, for not only is the meat, as a rule, on service inferior to that served in cantonments, but the extras which can be procured from the coffee-shop are not here forthcoming.  When the vegetable ration consists of potatoes, 1 lb. is sufficient, but when it is made of mixed vegetables 1-1/4 lb. is necessary.  The substitution of dall for any portion of the vegetable ration I consider undesirable.

Tinned soups and meats and biscuits are most valuable, and should be liberally supplied to every force in the field.  They are portable and liked by the men, to whom they furnish a very welcome change of diet.  I would very strongly recommend that a much larger issue of these articles than has hitherto been sanctioned should be provided.

[Sidenote:  Firewood.]