6
Rakh Marh was said to be free from flies by the camelmen but I crossed
the rakh from one side to the other and found many Tabanus all the way.
I have given these details so that it may be understood how local camel-
men are placed ; but I have been unable to offer many suggestions for I have
not yet come across sufficient grazing in a Surra-free-zone in the neighbourhood
to exchange for Rakh Mandevi if the latter is closed.
The Zamindars of the dry areas I have mentioned might be induced to
allow camel-grazing at a proper fee. Camels trample down the grass and
occasionally graze on it when it is very succulent ; but the camel-owners here
seem to be unprovided for.
Surra in horses is well-known in the neighbourhood of Rakh Marh and
outbreaks were reported to have occurred in former years in Faizpur, Mandian-
wala and Ghazipur, amongst other places.
It is proposed to survey certain localities between "Wan-Radharam and
Lahore next Surra season for Tabanus with a view to relieving the situation.
Meanwhile, it seems as though the necessity for Lana is not so great as it was
supposed to be ; for the local troop of the Camel Corps was grazed on the area
recommended west of Shakupura, and found that they got on well enough when
a ration of salt was given, and when the grazing was not too monotonous in
quality.
26. THE SALT RANGE.—The results of my tours in July and August in
this part of the country can be briefly summarised : —
Tabanus can sometimes be found with difficulty near water in these
jungles, but are so scanty in number as to be negligible. They are generally
of the smallest species. It may be said that in most cases, after a prolonged
halt at a tank or stream, not a single specimen could be found, and Tabanus
were never found away from water.
My tour included Rakhs Ara, Pareera, and Drengan and the country
about and between these rakhs, which are in Jhelum district. I was. touring
here from 18th to 27th July during the rains and the total bag of Tabanus were
two specimens of a very small species, and one of a medium-sized species.
I also searched Rakhs Oochali, Kunaddi, Sakesar, Sodhi and Bhannak and
the country around and between them (which is in district Shahpur) from 31st
July to 7th August and only found six small tabanus during this time, of which
three were found on the bank of the Oochali Salt Lake where camels do not go.
All the rakhs mentioned are suitable for camel-grazing in the rains except
Rakh Sakesar which is too steep in many places.
Another thing noted on the Salt Range was the infrequency of Stomoxys.
27. THE THAL (OF MEANWALI AND KHUSHAB).—I did not expect to find
Tabanus here as this is a sandy country but having never yet searched for it
myself in the rains, I went to a typical rakh at Mitha Tiwana and could find
no Tabanus. Neither could I find it at Khushab nor at Kundian ; nor on the
road between Khushab and Kund although it was flooded at the time, and
Lyperosia was abundant.
28. ATTOCK DISTRICT.—Rakh Chhatee having been suspected by a Com-
mandant of being a fly-zone I searched it in August and found it free from
Tabanidae. It and Oochri are now free from suspicion.
Rakh Gulial has the same physical features.
In the Kala Chitta range I searched in two directions from Jhallar in
August but two days' search only resulted in the finding of two small specimens
of Tabanus and one of Haematopota.
29. MULTAN DISTRICT.—To obtain more precise information on the area
mentioned in my last report as being free from Surra, I travelled up through
the centre of it in August and September from Mianpur via Jahania, Nalote,
Chak Shuhana, Kadoo Bharoo, and Pakhee Mian to the border of Montgomery
district.
No single Tabanus was found the whole way.
Flooding from the Ravi is only occasional and not an annual affair and
does not breed out Tabanus in the area referred to.