15
My route was as follows:— Dabeji, Gharo, Mirpur Sakro, Mehrun,
Abonshah Jati, Mirpur Batoro, Tanda Muhammed Khan and Badin.
The annual moves in the flood-season are as follows ;—
Prom western part of Delta ...
Prom central part of Delta
Prom eastern part of the Delta
To Gaddap and deserts on right
bank of Indus.
To the Mangrove-swamps on the
edge of the sea.
To the deserts on the east and
south-east.
The Khara camels which go to the Mangrove-swamps have developed,
through necessity, almost amphibious habits ; it is certain that the
Khara swamps are very free from Tabanus.
The worst localities for surra in the Delta are the Tamarisk (lei) and
habur jungles, and the rice-country comes next. In the central parts it is
difficult to keep a horse in health.
Surra was well-known throughout the Delta both in horses and camels
under the name of Machhar; heavy losses in camels were sustained last year in
Talukas Mirpur Sakro, Shahbandar, Jati and Badin and surra was demonstrated
microscopically traceable to the vicinities of Khairpur, Piran Baluch, Ootar,
Mirpur Sakro, Kandan (Jati), Bhanun (Badin) and Mirpur Batoro.
34. Thar Parkar District.—The most easterly branch of the Delta is
the Nara. I found surra cases traceable to it in Umarkote, Khijrari and Dhoro
Naro.
The desert itself to the east of the Nara is considered by most of its
camelmen to be free from surra; with the Bikaner outbreaks in mind, it would
he safer to say comparatively free; for the men recognised specimens of
Lyperosia. Tabanus is not found there.
Thar camels examined seemed very free from the disease ; even in
fodder-famine years like 1911, their owners will not bring them to the Nara
until November ; they would rather see their herds starving than run the risk
of surra.
35. Left bank of Indus, between Hyderabad and Kandiaro.—I visited
Matari, Naushahro and Dabhro. The usual practice with breeders on the bank
of the river is to take their camels to the sandy country to the east in the flood
season.
At Matari they knew surra, but I failed to find any case.
Cases of surra were found and traced to two villages a few miles from
Naushahro Feroze, severe losses having been sustained there. A case was
found at Dabhro in a riding-camel which remains there all the year round.
36. Remarks.—The annual movement of herds from the riverain and
deltic grazing grounds in the flood-season enables camel-breeding to be carried
on with profit in Sind; in other words, it prevents the herds from being decima-
ted by disease. Semetimes, however, as in 1911, a drought is experienced, and
then there is little or nothing for the camels to eat in the deserts and they are
kept in the unhealthy flood areas all through the season. This is why surra is
widespread in Sind even in a year of drought.
In ordinary years the length of the sojourn in the desert varies from
two to four months, partly depending on the amount of rain which has fallen
(that is, the condition of the desert vegetation), and partly on custom. Now in
Sind the season for biting-flies is a long one ; if the camels move out of the
flood-areas in July and remain out until the end of October, they will be pretty
safe; but many breeders only keep them away during the two worst months,
July and August, and that is not enough; for there is still a large number of
biting flies left for two months after their return, quite sufficient to cause a
severe outbreak.