Gurkha

The Gurkha is an Indian long-range skirmisher unit. They are very expensive and somewhat fragile but have a strong attack. The Gurkha can be trained at the Barracks in the Colonial Age. Like all skirmisher units they are strong against infantry but are weak against Cavalry.

Real Life
The Gurkhas are a Nepalese ethnic group who claim to be descendants of the northern India Rajputs. They took their famous name from the small state of Gurkha in Nepal, which they conquered in the early sixteenth century. For 200 years, the Gurkhas expanded eastward, seeking to conquer all of Nepal. They succeeded, and by the mid-eighteenth century, the entire country was theirs and Hinduism was named the state religion. The Gurkhas attempted to invade Tibet but were unsuccessful and as war with the British broke out in India, they found their control waning. They did, however, discover a surprisingly fruitful partnership with the British occupational forces in India. The Gurkhas were hired to fight for Britain and later India. They fought with distinction in every war Britain has particpated in and today still serve in the British and Indian militaries.