24
must be owned that the tendency in Mountain Artillery has been to demand
bigger mules, and if this is the case we must raise our standard of measurements.
134. Last year, the average of the Italians was as follows:—
Height ...
Girth ...
Shank ...
whereas this year, it is :—
Height ...
Girth ...
Shank ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
12-2 5/16 hands
55 inches
... 6¾ „
... 12-2¼ hands
54 inches
... 63/5 „
the girth and shank being slightly under the measurements of last year.
135. Mr. Sutherland makes some very pertinent remarks regarding the use
of better mares. He states:—
The Jack is only one factor in the mule-breeding business. It is the dam that gives the size to the mule, and
I consequently have no hesitation in pointing out that, in order to breed mules suited for Ordnance purposes, a
better class of mare, as dam, must be used than that hitherto employed for the purpose, and that failure to find
suitable Ordnance mules in India, when wanted, must not be laid entirely at the door of the jackass of whatever
breed he may be.
136. I agree with Mr. Sutherland to a great extent, but still we must be
content to deal with the mares that we have in this country, and whose owners are
willing to keep them for mule-breeding. I wish we could induce breeders to keep
a certain number of better mares, still, I cannot argue that in all cases it is the
size of the dam that gives size to the mule ; so frequently do we see very small
mares with foals almost as big as themselves at 6 months of age, and which
ultimately develop into Ordnance mules. This leads me to the conclusion that we
require bigger Jacks, and I would like to see the minimum rasied to 13 hands, girth
56 inches, and shank 7 inches, for all imported donkeys. This I feel confident is
an impossibility whilst we look on Italy as our only field, for with Mr. Sutherland's
lengthened experience in that country, I feel he gets the best that are procurable;
we should, therefore, endeavour to obtain them elsewhere, and on this subject, as
pointing to supply from Spain, I would quote the following extract from a letter
received from Mr. Wrench, of the Irish Land Commission. He says:—
Spanish donkeys are doing particularly well in Ireland and producing better animals from the first cross than
I should have thought possible.
137. I have now dealt with the only class of donkey that should be depend-
ed on as our Ordnance mule producing sire; still, although a much less expensive
animal, I think many of the Cyprians obtained this year will be found very little
inferior to the Italians. The averages when compared, are as follows:—
Italians
Cyprians
Height.
... 12-2¼
... 12-2
Girth.
54
53¾
Shank.
63/5
6½
This is an improvement on those sent out last year which were well reported on.
138. The Cyprian is a cheap donkey, costing as he does in that island, about
£27. He is one that I feel justified in recommending to Native States who are
interested in mule-breeding, as not being an expensive animal, and as being one
likely to get them first class Transport mules; already Bhurtpur has obtained 3,
Ulwar 5 and Pertabgarh 1. Others will be required for Faridkot and Kapurthala.
139. In the Cyprian we have a Jack that will give us many an Ordnance
mule and a large number of Transport mules. The danger I foresee is, that we
should drain the market too much as has been done in Italy. I have, therefore,
obtained the sanction of the Government of India to visit Cyprus when proceeding
on leave, to confer with the authorities, and I feel confident that by being able to
explain to the puchaser the faults most to be guarded against, we shall obtain
even more satisfactory consignments than we have hitherto done.
140. I would now offer a few remarks on the donkeys purchasable in India.
For three consecutive years I have been promised Persian donkeys, but have not
been able to obtain one. Sardar Oomer Jamal Vuyani has done his utmost, and
assured me that this year some would be obtainable, but I felt doubtful. Even at
the cost of obtaining more than the number sanctioned to be bought during the
year, I entered into an agreement with one Haji Raza Qoolee Sherazi, to bring over
15, these he promised to land before 6th February. Not a single one has, however,
been secured from either source. The one Persian shown, as having been allotted
this year, was purchased from a District Board in the North-Western Provinces.
We must, therefore, exclude this market for our calculations in future, and I do not