16
MISCELLANEOUS MATTER REGARDING DONKEY STALLIONS.
Supply of donkey
stallions.
103. I have already shown what the demand for Jacks is; it may be well to
consider the supply which, under the existing arrangements, is totally inadequate.
104. The supply from the Continent has this year only resulted in 18 being
obtained and, as I have shown when remarking on the Catalans, many inferior
ones had to be sent to make up the number.
105. Not a single Arab or Persian donkey was offered for sale in the Bombay
market although sanction has been accorded to the price being raised to R400.
106. Cyprus has been our only standby and had it not been for these Jacks, I
fail to see how mule-breeding in India could have been carried on. Thirty-two
were obtained from this Island.
107. The agreement entered into between the Government of India and
Cyprus, to take between 25 and 30 Jacks annually and not to discontinue such
purchases except on three years' notice being given, will have the effect of more
attention being paid to donkey-breeding in the Island.
108. Many of the suggestions which I was able to make to the Governor on
my visit to Cyprus in 1898, for the improvement of donkey-breeding having been
given effect to, good Jacks and well selected ones are stationed in some of the
districts; their services are allowed free and the Government of Cyprus offer
prizes paid from Agricultural Funds for the best donkeys.
109. A perusal of the above short remarks will show that our donkey-supply
is in a precarious state, in fact I have made similar remarks for years past.
Especially is it so at present when many old donkeys require to be replaced
and when it is necessary for the next two years to find 25 extra Jacks to meet
the increase sanctioned by the Government of India under the scheme whereby
these are handed over to Lambardars and others with a view of extending mule-
breeding in outlying centres at which no stands exist.
110. Feeling that something must be done to improve our supply, I have
suggested for the consideration of Government that endeavours should be
made to open a market in Syria. I have been led to make this suggestion
owing to the fact that during the past three or four years a few so-called Arab
Jacks have been landed in Bombay annually. These were not the typical class
of Arabs, they were of good dark colours, many being black; they were bigger
than the ordinary Arab donkey and possessed more bone and were of deeper
girth. On enquiry I found that they had been purchased in the districts
around Damascus. If we can successfully open out a market in Syria,
combined with the one now started in Cyprus, we shall have done much to
alleviate the want of Jacks in India, which is being so much felt at the
present time.
Improvement in the
breed of donkeys.
111. Intimately connected with the supply of donkey stallions is that of
the improvement of the breed in India. Not only is this question of interest to
us, but the Transport Department is also greatly interested in the matter.
Statistics previously given will show to what extent this Department has been
able to assist; with the paucity of Jacks at our disposal we can only relegate
such that will not cover pony mares, to donkey-breeding.
112. I have been in communication with the Director of Land Records and
Agriculture, Punjab, and a Circular has been sent to all Deputy Commissioners
in that Province, asking them for certain information which, when received,
will enable me, in communication with the Director, to draw up a workable
scheme with a view of generally improving the breed of donkeys.
Mule supply.
113. During the current year various measures have been discussed with a
view of endeavouring to obtain more mules for all branches of the service.
This has been rendered necessary owing to the enormous demand for these
animals for use in Native States, for private purposes, for Imperial Service
Transport Corps and for Native Cavalry Transport. Some years ago carriage
of grain in the hills was mainly carried on by means of ponies, to-day nearly
the whole of such transport is done by mules. Again, the transport of Native
Cavalry was always supplied by ponies, now every regiment is exchanging
these for mules as they find them to be more serviceable. During the current
year the Bharatpur State has been raising a Transport Corps and have bought