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In "His Chance in Life", in Plain Tales from the Hills, D'Cruze, the Eurasian Telegraph Signaller, has been posted down to Tibasu, a sub-office down the line on the way to Madras. As you will recall, there is a riot there, he seizes his chance, takes command, gains promotion and wins his bride. In RK's account the local police have 'four crazy smooth bore muskets between them'. In preparing notes on the tale for the NRG, we are wondering whether even a small out-of-the-way place like Tibasu would still have had muskets with powder-horns, ramrods and perhaps percussion-caps instead of flints, as late as the 1880s ? Most grateful for any thoughts ! Good wishes to all, John McGivering and John Radcliffe