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149. Some difficulties will arise during the current year in increasing the
number of coverings owing to the great drain, especially in the Punjab, of ponies
for the Tirah Expedition.
150. During the year under review, this Department was directed to assist
the Remount Department in purchasing mature mules for the Reserve Mountain
Battery which was formed with a view of meeting the deficiencies as they might
occur in the Mountain Batteries of the Tirah Expeditionary Force, and the
Malakhand and Tochi Forces.
151. I regret that we were not successful, as only 9 were obtained, but it
must be remembered that we, not being a purchasing Department, had not the
machinery ready to put into work at once, besides which, it is next to impossible to
find animals, be they horses or mules, that are fit for service at once ; either they
are too fat being in dealer's condition and therefore unfit for work, or they are out
of condition through hard work. Still, I feel glad that this opportunity was given
to this Department as it enabled its Officers to make themselves acquainted with
the mule supply of their various circles, and I would bring specially to notice
Veterinary-Lieutenant Turnbull for the assiduous manner in which he endeavoured
to carry out the orders of the Government of India, and for the information
contained in his report. Quoting from his report, to account for the small number
obtained, he says :—
" Throughout I was most careful in my selection, only buying the best which I was sure could not fail to
satisfy the most critical Commanding Officer, otherwise there were many out of those brought up which were only
two to three months under four years old or which, with the most careful measurement, perhaps failed by half an
inch to come up to the standard girth measurement. It must be remembered that the owners had not previously been
informed that Government intended to purchase mature mules, so that several that were in poor condition would
have been of proper measurement had they been got into condition. From the information collected from Chowdries,
Zilladars and others, and from my own personal observation during my tour in the North Punjab Circle, I am con-
vinced that there are a large number of mules in the country from three to four years of age which are sufficiently
well grown to eventually develop into first class Ordnance mules. I have gone carefully into the question, and I am
sure I could buy 100 in the Rawalpindi district alone within a month."
152. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South Punjab,
states:—
" As to the future supply of Ordnance mules, the prospects are very favorable, as mule-breeding generally is
yearly becoming more popular, but. I am of opinion that they must be purchased at a young age. I have seen some
very fine two and three year old mules when on tour. Zemindars will not keep young stock of any kind if they can
dispose of it profitably at an early age. "
153. I have quoted the above from Veterinary-Lieutenant Turnbull's report,
as well as from that of the Superintendent, South Punjab, in order to show that
the Remount Department is likely to be able to obtain between 400 and 500 mules
fit for Ordnance or which are likely to develop into such, this being the number
that is estimated annually to meet the requirements of our Mountain Batteries.
I cannot, however, close my eyes to the fact that the number is large, and that
strenuous exertions will be required on the part of this Department to meet the
demand. The Remount Department will on its part have to avail itself of every
opportunity of purchasing. The prices offered by Government are liberal, Rs. 250
being paid for a two year old and Rs. 350 for three year olds. Let these-prices
be paid for even one mule at our smaller Fairs, and it will prove an inducement
to other breeders to endeavour to follow the example of his neighbours; in this
way zemindars may be induced to keep better mares for mule-breeding, seeing that
it will pay them to do so. I do not like to advocate any system which will throw
more work on the Officers of this Department, who are already overstrained, still,
I cannot help thinking that they should be utilized as purchasers. Who would, I
ask, have the advantages which they possess marching through the country as they
do and visiting tehsils and other centres in the different districts? If it were known
that they were purchasers, breeders would soon learn to trust to them instead of to
the dealer, and thus the zemindars' profits would be increased, and the prospects
of mule-breeding improved.
154. In order to show that some, but perhaps only one, might have been
bought at many of the Fairs where the Army Remount Department had no mule
purchasers, I have extracted the following from various reports ; the majority are
from those of the Special Judging Committee of which Captain Hardy was a
Member. This Officer being a Mountain Battery Artillery Officer took the
warmest interest in the matter, and often expressed his surprise that good mules
were allowed to escape purchase. I would draw special attention to the extract
from the report on the Rawalpindi Show on this subject, and can only express my
regret that none were purchased. If we fixed 40 as being fit for Ordnance and 30
for first class Baggage mules, we would be well within the mark :—