27
116. I feel convinced that if these proposals are accepted, they will be
the means of adding to the supply of Ordnance mules in the future; but few
will be forthcoming for the first few years; in fact I have only stipulated
for 40 per annum, but the scheme will spread, and ultimately a much larger
number will be found to be available.
117. In submitting the above scheme for the consideration of the Gov-
ernment of India, I went still further and recommended the purchase of any
good mules of six months of age that were likely to turn into Ordnance
animals. I did so for the reason that we know that the great majority of
those dropped are disposed of by their owners at that age. This Department
is in a position to prove that 26 per cent. of the mares that have been covered,
and which can be traced, have dropped a foal. This number yielded 3,637
last year, and if we take the same percentage of cases in which the mares could
not be traced—3,900—we should add 1,014, making a total of 4,651 mule foals
dropped annually, the results of coverings by Government donkey stallions.
In addition to these, a very large number of mares are covered by country-
bred donkeys, in the hands of men who employ them as a means of livelihood,
charging from eight annas to one rupee for each covering; this I clearly ascer-
tained when endeavouring to purchase young country-bred Jacks. Many of
their owners will not sell them under prohibitive prices, and when I find this
to be the case, I can always trace the cause to the fact that the donkeys are
used as sires. When I find this to be the case, I never interfere with these
Jacks as I feel they are doing, at the owner's cost, what would be done if they
were employed and paid for by Government. The number of mules dropped
must therefore be great, and yet Government find it difficult to obtain the
necessary supply of animals either for Ordnance or Transport purposes.
118. The cause lies in the fact that they are all bought up at a very early
age. The best are undoubtedly kept by the Chowdris, who purchase them
to be sold to the Remount Agent, but the rest are put to work at 18 months
of age, and are therefore unfit for purchase when required by the Transport
Department when four years old.
119. I shall, when reviewing the Fair reports, show that, according to the
Superintendent's report, there was a large increase in the number of mules
exhibited at the Jacobabad Horse Show, but that, although the Commissariat
and Transport Department had an Officer present, still that he was unable to
purchase any, owing to the fact that the majority were only three years old.
Again it will be seen that over 700 were purchased at the Amritsar (Dewali)
Fair, nearly all of them being young mules. The great exodus to Swat from
the last Rawalpindi Horse Show, amounting as it did to 500, shows the drain
which exists on the mule supply of the country.
120. I am therefore of opinion, and have submitted my views to the Gov-
ernment of India, that young mules likely to be fit for Ordnance purposes
should be purchased by this Department, and that they should be run in the
rough and fed on cheap and nutritious grain, such as maize, milletts, etc. I
would certainly advocate the experiment; it could not tend in any great loss
to Government, and might be the means of securing a large number of Ord-
nance mules at even a cheaper price than is paid at present. I do not assert
that every mule so purchased would turn into an animal fit for Mountain
Artillery, but such as were not fit for Ordnance would go as Baggage mules.
Again, any failures would be certain to make better Transport animals than
are obtainable at present. The Ordnance and Baggage mules could be taken
over by the Army Remount Department at two years of age, whilst the rest
would be kept until they were four years old, and would be then taken over
by the Commissariat and Transport Department at the average price paid, viz.,
R150. The success or failure of this scheme would be apparent in three years'
time: it would then be possible to decide whether it would be advisable to
adopt it permanently or to discontinue it.
121. I was led to make the above recommendation to the Government of
India owing to the fact that dealers are able to purchase and rear young mules,
and to sell them to Government at a profit; if they are able to do so, I see no
reason why, if managed on sound economical lines, and if the mistake which
E 2