30
"I attach a copy of the remarks made by the Judging Committee on the several
classes of animals exhibited. The quality of the animals exhibited was on the whole,
in the opinion of the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, very
superior.
"I attach also for your information Appendices A, B, and C, giving the returns of the
fair supplied to the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department.
"Appendix D shows the number of animals exhibited in each class, and the number
and value of the prizes awarded. Ninety-one mares were branded at the fair.
"Appendix E shows the number of animals purchased at the fair and the prices
paid. The total number of animals purchased amounts to 134, and the purchase-money
to Rs. 25,359.
"Appendix F is a copy of the prospectus of the Sibi Horse Show of 1893.
"Seventeen young stock were purchased by Captain Broome of the Army Remount
Department at an average price of Rs. 232-0-11 ⅓ each.
"Sixty-seven remounts were purchased for Native cavalry at an average cost of Rs.
227-12-25/6 viz., for—
6th Bombay Cavalry ...
1st Bengal Cavalry ...
17th Bengal Cavalry ...
5th Punjab Cavalry ...
5th Bombay Cavalry ...
7th Bombay Lancers ...
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No.
9
32
5
6
13
2
Rs.
2,250
7,010
1,220
1,410
2,890
480
"For police and levies twelve remounts were purchased at an average cost of Rs.
143-5-4, viz., for—
Zhob Levy Corps
Zhob Police
Thal Chotiali
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No.
2
5
5
Rs.
350
670
700
and two remounts were purchased by Native officers at an average cost of Rs. 185.
"There were also purchased at the fair 17 ponies at an average cost of Rs. 105-3-9,
5 mules at an average cost of Rs. 150, 8 riding camels at an average cost of Rs. 137-8-0,
and 6 bullocks at an average cost of Rs. 70-13-4.
"The paucity of purchasing officers at this show was much to be regretted. There
were a large number of animals of superior quality for sale suitable for remounts, but
very few purchasers. Unless more encouragement is given to horse breeders of the
neighbourhood, and to horse dealers from Herat, Meshed, and elsewhere who attend,
it cannot be expected that the Sibi Horse Show will be as successful in future years
as it has been in the past. The poor market afforded to horse sellers this year cannot
fail to be discouraging to them.
"It is a curious fact that while Bombay Cavalry regiments are said to be in want of
good purchasing markets for remounts, yet, with the exception of the local Sindh
Cavalry regiments, the Bombay Cavalry were totally unrepresented at the Sibi Fair. I
understand that a railway truck to carry 10 horses costs only Rs. 161-6-0 from Sibi to
Karachi, whence horses can be cheaply shipped to Bombay. Considering, therefore,
the small cost of carrage to Bombay, the absence of purchasers from the Bombay Caval
ry is the more remarkable. I should note that the 1st Bengal Cavalry, who purchased no
less than 32 remounts at this fair, are stationed at Nowgong in Central India, and
apparently find that it pays them to buy at Sibi, notwithstanding the distance their pur
chases have to be taken by rail and road.
"A noteworthy feature of the horse show was the exhibit of a horse plough. This
plough was made in Sibi by Walharikhaw, an enterprizing zemindar, who was one
of the men of the district, sent by me in December last, to attend Veterinary-
Lieutenant-Colonel Hallen's instruction class at the Government farm at Babugarh.
The plough exhibited was made after the pattern of those used at Babugarh, and it is
the first horse plough ever seen in Baluchistan, and as such was an object of
much interest to landowners and zemindars present, many of whom expressed their inten
tion of constructing ploughs of the same kind. In a country like Baluchistan, where
so much culturable land yearly lies uncultivated from want of sufficient bullocks and
labourers, the introduction of the use of horses in ploughing will bring about a rapid
extension of cultivation, and at the same time give a great impetus to horse-breeding.
"The results of the Sibi Horse Show in past years and the yearly increasing
numbers of horse stock exhibited there have, as I think will be generally admitted,
established its importance. I trust, therefore, that the question of increasing the amount
of prize money will receive your favorable consideration. Rs. 3,000 were contributed
this year towards the expenses of the show. Of this amount, Rs. 1,000 are granted by Gov
ernment from the revenues of the district, while Rs. 2,000 have been contributed by local
funds. The importance of the show would justify in my opinion some additional grant