9
regiments still buy largely in the Bombay and Calcutta markets; amongst
others might be mentioned:—
5th
6th
17th
19th
Bengal Cavalry,
„ „
„ „
„ „
no country-
5
22
24
bred remounts.
„
„
„
As was presumed last year, the balance of remounts required by these
regiments have been Australians.
44. The increase in the number of young stock bought by the Army
Remount Department amounted to 60. This is a satisfactory increase, still, it
does not represent in any way the number of good produce that could have been
obtained had more been required. Many more were available, and it is to
prevent these falling into the hands of the Bhojpuri dealers that I have been
induced to make the recommendations which I have done elsewhere, to the
effect that it would be advisable if the Native Cavalry could buy a certain
number of young stock.
45. The Inspector-General, Imperial Service Troops, has kindly furnished me
with complete returns of country-bred stock bought by the Inspecting Officers.
46. The percentage of pedigrees obtained by the Army Remount Depart-
ment being 59.91 (as shown by Table VI (a) vide, page xvi) is satisfactory, but is
unsatistfactory as far as Native Cavalry are concerned; this must be due to the
fact that but few remounts of the age purchased by this branch of the service
are in the hands of the actual breeders.
47. The number shown in the return submitted by the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, is 521, but of these, 69 are already
included in return received from Director, Army Remount Department. Of the
balance of 452, credit should not have been taken by Bombay for:—
91 bought in Baluchistan.
45
„
„ Punjab.
In addition, 52 are shown as "not known." If, therefore, we deduct the
above, it leaves 264 obtained, of which 245 were obtained in Sindh.
48. Last year (paragraph .20 of Annual Administration Report) I showed the
large number of remounts that were purchased at Amritsar and Lahore, point-
ing out that these for the most part consisted of horses that were purchased
from dealers. In 1894-95, 628 were bought in these districts; during the year
under review, 641 were also bought, as will be seen by Table VI (c) vide page
xxii, and the following statement:—
Bengal Cavalry ... ... ...
Punjab Police ... ... ...
Imperial Service Troops ... ...
Army Remount Department ... ...
Amritsar.
127
1
34
85
247
Lahore.
265
2
16
111
394
Total.
392
3
50
196
641
Purchase
of
grey horses as
remounts.
49. In last year's Administration Report, I remarked that very few greys
had been purchased by Remount Officers; from close observation at the Horse
Shows and Fairs, which I attended this year, I am fully convinced that many
of the best horses offered for sale are of this color. I noticed, however, that
Purchasing Officers did not reject the good ones this year as they did on former
occasions; in fact, I find, from Remount Rolls received, that 320 greys and
duns were bought by the Native Cavalry.
50. Bearing in mind the decision of the Government of India on the subject
of purchasing grey stallions, which was to the effect that first class stallions of
this color were not to be rejected, but that in view of the objections felt
against grey remounts by some Commanding Officers, they did not consider it
advisable to purchase any large number of stallions of this color. I endea-
voured when purchasing in Bombay, to avoid greys as much as possible, still,
I felt compelled to take four for Imperial purposes and one for District Boards;
these were among the best stallions bought this year.
3