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(ii) Plans were drawn up and tours arranged for Remount Agents to
accompany the officers of the Civil Veterinary Department for
the purpose of purchasing young horse stock from the dealers.
Interview with
Darindahs, North-
Western Provinces.
On my visit to Babugarh, I assembled as many of the Darindahs of the
North-Western Provinces as could possibly attend; 38, being more than half,
were present. This enables me to address them on points which, if attended to,
would lead to the more efficient working of the Department. The points
brought forward were:—
(a) Their responsibilities as Darindahs of this Department.
(b) Their assistance was asked (i) to increase coverings, (ii) to increase
the number of successful coverings.
(c) The necessity of their keeping themselves acquainted with all the
young stock in the vicinity of their stands, in order to endeavour
to bring the breeder and the Remount A gent in closer contact.
(d) Mule-breeding.—The necessity of keeping bigger mares for this
industry if it was desired to obtain the good prices paid by the
Army Remount Department for Ordnance mules, and the advis-
ability of keeping their young stock to two years of age.
At this gathering of the Darindahs, a silver medal was awarded for the
best working of any stand in the North-Western Provinces, this being judged
by the number of coverings and by the condition in which stallions were
returned to the depôt from their stands. I feel convinced that this will have
a beneficial effect on the work of the Darindah system, which hitherto has not
been satisfactory, but which is gradually improving.
Visit to Veterinary
College and Arab
Stables, Bombay.
I then proceeded to Bombay to make arrangements with the dealers for
next season's purchases prior to starting on short leave, and to visit Cyprus.
Returning from Cyprus on 29th October 1898, I inspected the Bombay
Veterinary College and enquired into the prospects of the Arab market for the
year. I then proceeded to Simla to consult with the Government of India on
certain subjects which had engaged the attention of this Department during
my absence.
Lahore Veterinary
College.
I then visited the Lahore Veterinary College and discussed with the
Principal various points in connection with the three years' course which will
shortly be introduced into this institution.
Visit to Punjab
Native States.
I then commenced my tour in the Punjab, visiting the Native States of
Bahawalpur, Kapurthala, Patiala, Nabha, Jhind and Faridkot. The object
and results of these visits will be found detailed in my review of horse and
mule-breeding in these States.
Amritsar Fair.
I attended the Amritsar (Dewali) Horse and Cattle Fair, watching the
work of the Veterinary Assistants in the direction of contagious disease
amongst the latter and carefully noting the class of bulls and cows exhibited;
this I did to be in a position to decide various questions connected with the
Hissar Farm. At this Fair I also was able to watch the mule market, to
ascertain to what extent young mules were diverted from the Government
purchasers.
Visit to Rajputana.
Having concluded my tour in the Punjab, I then travelled through Raj-
putana, visiting the States of Ulwar, Jeypur, Jodhpur, and Bhurtpur. I also
devoted some time to the consideration of questions connected with the Raj-
putana Veterinary School at Ajmere. At the conclusion of my tour, I was in
a position to make certain recommendations for the consideration of the Agent
to the Governor General. Amongst the most important were:—
Employment of
Veterinary Assist-
ants in Native
States.
The employment of Veterinary Assistants in Native States.—At present
the various States subscribe towards the up-keep of the Ajmere Veterinary
School and send pupils to be trained, but when these men have passed, they
return to the States, and, if employment is found for them, they do next to