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247. The Remount Agent purchased four head of young stock and
records his opinion that the stock was very inferior, and not up to the
standard of former years; when, however, we read the report by the Com-
mittee in which they class the 3 and 2-year old fillies as "very good",
yearling fillies "good", foals colts " good ", foals fillies " very good ", and record
their opinion that only the yearling colts were "poor", I am inclined to
differ with this officer, and to think that he was hypercritical, owing to the
fact that the Remount Department did not want to buy young stock this year.
Garhmuktesar
Horse Show.
248. This is the Mule Fair of the North-Western Provinces, but owing to
the representations made by Mr. Wyer, the Collector of the district, it was
decided last year, for the first time, to offer prizes for horse stock, and as a
centre where the young stock of the district can be collected, Garhmuktesar
should prove a very convenient centre for Regiments who have small runs in
which to rear their young stock. This year it was only natural to expect that
the numbers should be smaller, for only such as were likely to take prizes or
such as were for sale, were brought in, still the falling off in horses was not
so marked as was anticipated, 240 being present against 323 last year. There
was actually an increase in the number of mules, 1,063 against 1,014 last year.
249. Eight head of young stock were purchased by the Remount Agent,
and the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, remarks:—
"There were several others present by well known sires that appeared likely to grow into remounts."
It is these that I would like to see purchased by Native Cavalry Regi-
ments when the Remount Agent has concluded his purchases, they could then
be bought at a reasonable price, and would turn out excellent Silladar Cavalry
Troop horses.
250. Garhmuktesar is not a show at which mature remounts are obtain-
able: the owners prefer taking them to Batesar where they are likely to find
more ready sale for them.
251. This fair is fast developing as far as mules are concerned, and as such
it is serving a most useful purpose. Last year, only 44 were purchased, where-
as this year 140 were bought by the Commissariat and Transport Department,
and by various Regiments. Of these, the Commissariat bought 84, and a very
useful lot of mules they were. On the subject of mules, in the North-Western
Provinces, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, makes the follow-
ing remarks which show the distribution of the young stock:—
"Garhmuktesar is the Mule Fair of the North-Western Provinces, and is the place where nearly all the
mule stock bred in the North-West change hands on their way to the Punjab. The zemindars of these Prov-
inces have a prejudice against mule breeding, but they appear to a certain extent to be getting over it, as I find
that yearly mule breeding is increasing, and from what I can ascertain, if more donkey stallions were available,
their services could be fully utilized, but although breeding is extensively carried on, the rearing of the young
stock is left almost entirely to the Punjabi. I have made enquiries at almost every stand in the districts, where
mule breeding is carried on, and I find that breeders invariably sell their young mules to dealers at the age of
from two to six months, and get average prices ranging from R25 to R70 ; the female is regarded as hardier than
the male and comes to maturity sooner, consequently she fetches about R10 more in the market. Youngsters by
Government donkey stallions are valued at from R15 to R25 more than those by ordinary country donkeys.
The dealers that usually buy the youngsters are Kumhars, and they feed them when they are very young on
bread and some times goat's milk, until they are able to graze. They usually sell them young, but sometimes
keep them for pack purposes, and eventually sell them in the Punjab or at the Garhmuktesar Fair. No Ordnance
mules are to be had at Garhmuktesar, a better market is found for them further north, and besides, the number
of mules at the Fair, over four years, were very few; comparatively speaking, the best mules at the Fair were
those from one to three years of age."
Makanpur Horse
Fair.
252. This fair should be the second Batesar of the North-Western Prov-
inces, in fact there is no reason why it should not be the large horse market
from which Regiments stationed at Cawnpore, Allahabad, Fyzabad, Lucknow,
and Bareilly, should obtain their remounts. All that is required is to ensure
purchasers, and the smaller dealers, having horses for sale, will follow them.
Makanpur is most conveniently situated, being close to Cawnpore, and only
3 miles from the line of rail. A certain amount of correspondence took place on
recommendations made by the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department,
last year, and in order to be able to give an opinion, I visited the fair myself.
I have now addressed the Director of Land Records and Agriculture,
suggesting certain alterations, amongst the most important being the opening
of a Sub-Treasury to enable officers to obtain money to pay for their remounts;
attention to sanitation, especially as referring to cleaning wells from which
water is obtained, and increased facilities in the way of supplies. I satisfied