30
Capabilities of
Cyprus as a mule¬
supplying centre.
135. Feeling that at any time when there would be a sudden and unex
pected demand for mules, it might be necessary to send abroad to purchase a
certain number, I deemed it advisable to acquaint the Government of India
with the information which I was able to obtain with reference to the mule-
supply of the island of Cyprus. The following extracts from my report on
the subject being of interest are reproduced:—
"The island of Cyprus, possessing as it does no railways and but few roads on which carts can travel,
the carriage of merchandise and the products of the country to the various ports for export devolves solely
on the mules and donkeys bred in the island, and after careful inspection of the mules, both as foals with
their dams and as adult animals, I am convinced that the Cyprians are in every way superior to the Spanish
or Italian mule for Ordnance purposes in India, and should the Government of India require mules of this
description, although I trust that the Remount Department will be able to obviate the necessity of buying out
of India, I would strongly recommend that a consignment be obtained from Cyprus. The mules bred in this
island have in most instances been accustomed to bill work. The island possesses two distinct ranges of
mountains, the northern called Kyrenia and the southern the Troodos Range; mules have therefore been
either bred in these mountains or have been accustomed to work in them.
"Mules are bred both from donkeys and from pony mares—the former are preferred for pack purposes,
whilst the latter are preferred for harness work when pace is considered. Many of the former, viz., those
bred from donkey mares, have been purchased for the Egyptian Artillery.
"The weight carrying powers of the Cyprian mules are immense. Kythrea is situated about 12 miles
from Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, and owing to the fact that water power, which emerges from a cavern in
the mountain side, is available, the flour mills are situated there; regularly every morning mules are to be
seen conveying wheat from Nicosia weighing between five and six hundred pounds, and returning laden with
flour the same evening; this they do regularly day by day. I mention this as otherwise the shank measure
ment, which I shall hereafter give, may be considered small. As mules for harness purposes, they are excellent;
one pair which I drove does the journey in a light mail-phaeton to Larnaca and back in one day, a distance
of 52 miles, doing each half, viz., 26 miles in 3½ hours over a bad road.
"Uganda is taking 500 mules from Cyprus for transport purposes, and I was fortunate enough to be
able to inspect nearly 200 that were collected for shipment. I can only say that better transport mules
could not be wished for, but as affecting the supply of Ordnance mules for India, there were, amongst this
batch, many that were in every way too good for transport purposes, and which would have done well for
Mountain Artillery. I selected the following:—
Height.
13.3½
13.3½
13.3
13.2½
13.3½
13.3½
14.1
14.1
Girth.
65
63½
65½
63
66⅓
65
65
66½
Shank.
6⅞
7
6⅞ 7
6½
6⅞
7
7
Age.
5 years.
4 „
6 „
4 „
4 „
7 „
5 „
4 „
"An allowance of half an inch was made in each case for shoes or long feet, and the girth and shank
were very tightly measured; the mules were in good but not in gross condition, as is frequently the case when
animals of this description are purchased from dealers in India. It may be urged that the shank is small,
but it must be remembered that the mules are well bred, their bone is like that of the thoroughbred, very
dense, and this is evinced by the immense loads which they carry. One of the great points with the Cyprian
mule is he good arch of the ribs.
"I was informed that mules from 13.3 to 14.1, the former being in my opinion the best in Cyprus as well
as elsewhere, could be procured at an average price of £18, and that local arrangements could be made to
ship them direct to Bombay; freight and shipping charges about £6, or with contingent expenses they might
be lauded at Bombay for about R400."