44
229. With reference to this Fair, I feel I cannot do better than to quote
the words of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinery Department, who attended
it. He says:—
"The fair commenced on the 27th November and lasted until the 30th. It can scarcely be regarded as
a Horse Fair, but rather one for pleasure to which the Nawab invites his friends from the surrounding stations
for a three days outing:
"The fair was started some years ago by General Mahomed Azimud-din, and during his life time prizes
were given for horses, and the State purchased a great number of remounts at the Fair, but since his death,
about 3 years ago, the Horse Fair has gradually declined until in the present year there were about 150 horse
stock and two mules. The horses were the poorest lot I ever saw together, the great majority of them being
broken down, unsound, and undersized; there were but two horses in the fair that I considered fit for Native
Cavalry.
"There were no prizes awarded."
230. This officer also states that he hopes in time to see this fair improve.
The Chief of the State, he understands, would give Rs. 1,000 in prizes to ensure a
good fair, and the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, thinks that
this could be assured if the breeders of the Rohilkund Division were attracted
to it. Horse breeding, he reports, to be at a low ebb in the State, but he sees
signs of its being revived now that Colonel Ross, the Military Adviser to the
Nawab, has taken the matter in hand.
PUNJAB.
231. This fair held from 12th to 21st October 1895, must be looked upon
is purely a dealers' fair, and as such, it cannot count on the help of this Depart-
ment. Connected with the fair, a horse show is also held; for this the sum
of Rs. 300 is allotted from Imperial Funds; this I look upon as a waste of
money, and it will be a matter for consideration whether this contribution
should not be discontinued.
232. On this occasion, 58 horses and 19 mules competed. Of these, the
branded mares were said to be a fair lot; the mares with foal at foot, a poor lot;
branded fillies, bad, both in numbers and quality—only two competing. The
remaining classes need not be noticed, consisting as they did of an average of
three in each. Even the mules, in which class only 19 competed, are reported
to have been an indifferent class. This plainly proves to me that those attend-
ing this fair do so purely with the object of selling and not with a view of com-
peting for prizes.
233. Forty-four remounts were purchased by the Remount Agent. On this
point the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, reports that with two
exceptions they were all purchased from dealers. I know I am at variance
with many others, but I cannot help asserting that by purchasing so largely
from dealers we are undoubtedly ruining the prospects of horse breeding. The
breeders could afford to sell to the buyers direct; if a middleman is employed
the profit must go to him; but is it only the breeder that suffers? To this
question I would reply that I think Government also suffer greatly by the
enhanced prices that have to be paid to these men. The average price of these
44 is shown at Rs. 400-3-9, although 31 were under 3 years of age.
234. Sixty-two remounts were bought for Native Cavalry, and 26 for Im-
perial Service Troops.
235. The Remount Department bought 20 Ordnance mules. Eighty bag-
gage mules were bought by Native Cavalry, and 36 by Imperial Service Troops.
236. The general concensus of opinion is that the quality of the horses pur-
chased was fair, but Captain Weller notes that there were colors of every
shade to be found, pointing plainly to the use of country bred sires.
237. Many of the purchasing officers complain of the injury done to them
by the dealers.
238. Major Dawson, 9th Bengal Lancers, says:—
"The great impediment to officers purchasing for the Native Cavalry is the Lahore dealer who buys young
stock in the fair for the Government Remount Agent at prices far beyond the reach of the Native Cavalry."