4
class of stallion is required, and that it will only be by the most careful allot-
ment of stallions to different districts that success will be obtained.
Stallions which
produce
the
most
suitable
stock for the
Army.
19. Table V (vide page xiii).—To prepare this table with any correctness
it would be necessary for the Superintendents, Civil Veterinary Department, to
visit the Remount Depôts whenever remounts are issued, and also to see all re-
jections made during the year. This is found to be impracticable. I have there-
fore asked the Director of Army Remounts, whose Department is responsible
for the allotment, whether he could not afford the information. All that is
required to know is the number issued and rejected during the year, and the
classes of stallions they were got by. This would at once show whether
thoroughbred English, Hackneys, or Arabs are doing the best work. By this I
do not wish it to be understood that the various Superintendents are not to
visit the depôts as opportunities occur, for I feel that by so doing much use-
ful information will be gathered.
20. It will be seen that during the year under review only 148 remounts
of those issued by the Karnal and Ahmednagar Depôts were inspected, and. that,
with the exception of the latter, no mention is made of the rejections.
Country-bred
remounts. Num-
ber purchased.
21. Table VI (page xiv) will show that 2,417 country-bred remounts were
purchased during the year. In order that a comparison may be drawn between
this return and the one submitted last year, it will be necessary to divide Ben-
gal and Bombay. The figures then stand as follows:—
Bengal ... ... ... ...
Bombay ... ... ... ...
Imperial Service Troops ... ... ...
1892-93.
1,832
351
...
2,183
1393-94
1,972
343
102
2,417
22. It will therefore be seen that 234 more remounts were purchased this
year; the increase being confined to Bengal, as it may be said that all those
purchased for the Imperial Service Troops were bought in the Provinces com-
prised in Bengal.
23. It is pleasing to note that both the Remout Department and the Na-
tive Cavalry obtained more than they did in the year 1892-93.
24. I regret to find that little improvement has taken place in recording
the sires by which the remounts were got. By this omission much useful
information is lost. Early steps will be taken to endeavour to remedy this
defect. On this point the Officer Commanding 15th Bengal Lancers states :—-
Many more of these remounts than can be shown as such, are reported by Government
sires ; the tickets are undoubtedly lost in many cases. Many of these tickets,
i.e., breeding
certificates, are made out in the Vernacular only and illegible at that, and the English name
of the sire is often translated leading to doubt in identification ; thus, " Young Hero " is writ-
ten down as " Jawan Mard."
25. All produce certificates should be written both in English and Verna-
cular ; the attention of the Superintendents will be drawn to this subject. The
question also of horses possessing two names will be considered; it is believed
that the English name is quite sufficient and, although at times mutilated by
the ordinary native, is usually intelligible and is always preferred.
26. Captain Cookson, Imperial Service Troops generally reports favorably
on the horses bought. The Officer Commanding 19th Bengal Lancers reports
as follows :—
The quality of the horses now exhibited at the fairs is undoubtedly of a high stamp
and is improving: yearly ; but this improvement in quality is almost entirely confined to the
young stock which is now bought largely by the Remount Department, and does not find its
way into the ranks of Silladar Cavalry. The horses of 4 years old and upwards, which the
Native Cavalry are allowed to buy, are certainly not up to the standard of the horses procur-
able some few years ago at the fairs before the Remount Department were such large pur-
chasers.
This is the only officer amongst the Native Cavalry who complains of the
inferiority of horses of 4 years of age and upwards.
Maps.
27. Maps will be found in the cover of this Report, showing the breeding
districts ; the stands where stallions are located, and the number of stallions at
each stand.