[Sidenote: +African Troops.+] The foreign troops, chiefly African, form a remarkable feature in the French Army; they consist of Zouaves, Turcos, Foreign Legion, and Spahis, and take the field with the French troops against any Power, civilised or otherwise. The Zouaves were originally an Arab tribe, whom the French conquered and forced to pay tribute. Their dress is picturesque, consisting of an open blue jacket, red sash, loose red knickerbockers, and white gaiters, their head-gear being a red fez with or without a white turban. At the present time, there are but few Africans amongst them, the greater portion being Frenchmen, pure and simple. The Turcos are natives of Algeria and Tunis, induced to enlist by a bounty of £16. Their dress is similar to that of the Zouaves, excepting that their knickerbockers are blue, or white, instead of red. Both Zouaves and Turcos have many attributes of good Light Infantry. The former are renowned for their energy and activity in the attack, and the latter for their stalking and crawling powers. As long as there is a prospect of victory, these troops are full of _élan_ and courage, but a defeat takes much of their spirit out of them. Another peculiar body of troops are the five battalions of Zéphyrs Light African Infantry. They consist of very bad characters who are sent to the Corps as a punishment for their crimes. They garrison different districts in Algeria, as a rule the most unpleasant ones, and though formerly never employed in Europe, will now be allowed to do so in future wars. The Foreign Legion, numbering 5,000 men, consists of foreigners voluntarily enlisted for five years. They do not have a happy time of it. [Sidenote: +Cavalry.+] The Cavalry, with the latest additions to it, is composed of 79 regiments of 5 squadrons each (including a depôt-squadron), and 4 regiments of Spahis of 6 squadrons each—total, 419 squadrons. They consist of— 12 Regiments of Cuirassiers, 28 ” ” Dragoons, 21 ” ” Chasseurs à Cheval, 12 ” ” Hussars, 6 ” ” Chasseurs d’Afrique, 4 ” ” Spahis. Total, 83 regiments. The whole of the Cavalry is armed with the cut-and-thrust sword. Lances there are none. The Cuirassiers carry a revolver, the other regiments a carbine. The cuirass is still worn in Cuirassier regiments.