17
largely in the mule market; then again, the export of young mules beyond
the Frontier is, in my opinion, becoming a serious one amounting as it did at
the Rawalpindi Fair alone to about 800.
114. That mules will have to be purchased young and will have to be
reared is self evident and a commencement has been sanctioned which came
into operation on 1st April 1900. Two hundred young mules are to be bought
by this Department annually: they are to be sent to Hissar when purchased
and then to be fed as inexpensively as possible. The calculation is based on
their cost of R70 per head between the ages of 6 and 12 months and it is cal-
culated that if 40 per cent. turn out fit for Ordnance, 30 per cent. for 1st class
Baggage and 25 per cent. for Transport purposes, allowing 5 per cent. for casu-
alties, the scheme will prove a financial success.
115. I feel assured that with so many purchasers in the field, especially
when it is considered that young stock is being exported across the border in
large numbers, some such scheme is required. The one mentioned above is of
course on a small scale but its success or otherwise will prove whether it would
not be advisable to enlarge it greatly. I fully favour this proposal, in fact I
would go so far as to say that all young stock that can be purchased should be
bought and when of an age fit for issue it should be sorted out for the different
branches of the service. Government need have no fear of any loss even on
those that are not considered fit for Transport purposes for such is the
demand for mules that every one of these would have a marketable value.
116. It is mainly with reference to the supply of Transport mules that
this country is concerned, for I am fully of opinion that the requirements of
Ordnance mules can be met if care is taken not to allow Native States to
forestall the purchasers. This was done this year by a Native Officer of the
Hyderabad State who was buying 14-hand mules for carriage work.
117. The Government of the North-Western Provinces, in order to assist in
the mule breeding industry, has sanctioned the sum of R1,000 annually towards
the road expenses of cast mares all of which not being over 14 years of age,
are now handed over by British Mounted Corps to the Superintendent,
Civil Veterinary Department, for issue to breeders. All mares are covered
before issue and if it proved that enough are forthcoming, this scheme should
result in many good Ordnance mules being obtained. The progeny are to be
bought at six months of age if well grown and in good condition. So great
is the competition for these mares that already 400 applications have been
received.
118. Connected with this scheme is the branding of selected mares for
mule-breeding, the condition being that Government will supply a selected
Jack for their service. Up to date, however, this has not met with any success,
owners refusing the brand.
119. The Superintendents of this Department have assisted the Army Re-
mount Department in their purchases during the year by buying any suitable
mules when a Remount Agent was not present; this has resulted in 34 Ordnance
and 25 1st Class Baggage mules being obtained.
120. The Superintendents have also assisted the Officers specially selected
to purchase Transport mules, and in this connection I pointed out to the Govern-
ment of India that as mules were worked by private individuals at two and a half
years of age and further that as they were bought by Native Cavalry and
Imperial Service Troops at three years of age, the Commissariat and Transport
Department could only expect to get the dregs of the market, purchasing only,
as they did, at four years of age; this was all the more evident owing to the
fact that only R150 was given. This was altered by the age being reduced to
three years and the price being raised to R175. Another point which I brought
forward was that of girth measurement, as I found that an average of 2 inches
more was considered necessary for Commissariat-Transport mules, the price of
which was only R150 than for 1st Class Baggage mules (Artillery) for which
R200 is paid.
121. An alteration on this point connected with a reduction in age and an
increase in price, as above noted, should result in many more being obtained.
D