=144.= In order to develop the faculty of rapid and accurate observation, which is of great importance in campaign, the recruit should be trained in taking notice of his surroundings, at first from selected positions and later at the various gaits. He should be practiced under various conditions of weather in recognizing colors and forms; in pointing out and naming military features of the ground; in observing the effect of the direction of light on distinctness of objects; in recognizing at gradually increasing distances the animate and inanimate objects ordinarily met with in the field; in counting distant objects; and in estimating the size of groups, such as herds of animals and bodies of troops. MANUAL OF THE PISTOL. =145.= Instruction under this head is first given on foot, the recruit having previously been made familiar with the mechanism of the pistol, the names of the principal parts, and the method of cleaning, assembling, and operating it. When a lanyard is used the snaps are attached to the butt of the pistol and the magazine, the lanyard is passed over the head, and the sliding loop drawn snug against the right armpit. The lanyard should then be of just such length that the arm can be extended without constraint. For dismounted instruction with the pistol the troopers may be formed with or without intervals. During _instruction_ in the manual of the pistol given when dismounted _with intervals_ each trooper terminates the first execution of =raise pistol= by carrying his right foot 24 inches to the right and placing his left hand in the position of his bridle hand. This position is then retained until =return pistol= is executed, when the position of =attention= is resumed. At _all other times_ when movements in the manual of the pistol are executed dismounted the left hand is raised to the position of the bridle hand whenever used to manipulate the mechanism and is then dropped again to the side. =146.= Except in the act of firing, the automatic pistol, when actually on the person, whether loaded or unloaded, will be carried cocked and locked. At all other times the hammer will be lowered _fully down_. =147.= The pistol being in the holster, to raise pistol: 1. =Raise=, 2. =PISTOL.= Raise: Unbutton the flap of the holster with the right hand and grasp the stock, back of the hand outward. =PISTOL=: Draw the pistol from the holster; reverse it, muzzle up, the hand holding the stock with the thumb and last three fingers, forefinger outside the guard, barrel to the rear and inclined to the front at an angle of 30°, hand as high as the neck and 6 inches in front of the point of the right shoulder. This is the position of raise pistol. (Fig. 32.) [Illustration: FIG. 32, par. 147.] =148.= Being at =raise pistol=, to inspect pistol: 1. =Inspection=, 2. =PISTOL.=