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2. About (2,000) two thousand so called Arab horses have been imported
into Bombay this season; but most of them have been of common, very com-
mon, Persian Gulf breeds, and a great many of them small, under 14 hands in
height
3. In order to secure the horses I have purchased, it was necessary for
me to make several visits to Bombay so as to inspect the horses, batch by batch,
on arrival from the Persian Gulf, as the stable keepers had promised me the
pre-emption of the horses; therefore I inspected each batch after arrival as
soon as possible.
4. Adverting to previous reports submitted by me to the Government of
India, I have to again express my regret at the unsatisfactory state of the Arab
horse mart of Bombay. Year by year more horses of low quality and stamp are
being imported. Indeed, they are generally of the most common type of Arab
and cross bred Arab, and this fact rests upon the old dealers (I mean the dealers
and their sons who have during the last 40 years been importers) not, with one
or two exceptions, remaining in the trade. These men were Arab gentlemen
of the "Mahomed Bawker," "Abdool Rahman Minnie," "Jassim bin Feed,"
and "Sulaiman bin Jassim" class. They and their relatives were accustomed
yearly to go to the interior of the deserts of Arabia and buy the best of real—
"Asil"—Arab horses available. Now-a-days very few horses are so obtained,
but as a rule are bought on or near the coasts.
5. Referring to an unofficial file in which I have suggested that a worthy
Arab dealer might be induced to import next season some superior Arabs of
good caste and power, and he should be promised prices in his opinion remuner-
ative, I beg to report that I have had personal interviews with Jassim bin Feed
on this subject, and I have noted down on the appended sheet terms on which
he agrees to bring in October or November 1893 15 or 20 really good horses
for my pre-emption, and at prices for the different horses at their respective
merits, and that he believes the top price to be received by him will not exceed
Rs. 1,500.
6. I have accordingly informed Jassim bin Feed that I will, with the
sanction of the Government of India, inspect these horses to be imported by him
shortly after their arrival, and those I may deem suitable and fit for Govern-
ment stud work I will value according, in my opinion, to their respective worth,
and it will be optional to him to accept or refuse the prices I may put on
them.
7. I hope this measure will meet with the approval of the Government of
India.
Dated Bombay, 24th November 1892.
Memo. by—The Inspector General, Civil Veterinary Department.
After several conversations between Veterinary Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. B.
Hallen and Jassim bin Feed this morning, Jassim bin F eed called at the
Byculla Club, and on Veterinary Lieutenant-Colonel Hallen again speaking to
him of the dearth of really good Arab stallions in the Bombay market, the Super-
intendent, Mr. J. B. D'Silva, of the Office of Inspector-General, Civil Veteri-
nary Department, who was present at the interview, noted down as follows:—
Jassim bin Feed said that as he had signed an agreement with Essa Kha-
liffa, the Arab stable keeper in Byculla, to be manager of his stables for one
year, he was unable to go to Arabia this year, but that he will make arrange-
ments with an Arab dealer to bring really good Arab horses, the true high caste
Anaiza and other breeds, next October or November 1893.
Jassim bin Feed explained that during the months of March and April
there is a large fair held in Arabia at a place called Halab, where the best
Arab horses are brought for sale. The fair lasts for about two months. The
Bedouins collect annually at this place. It takes 40 days to get to Halab from
Bombay, viz., 15 days by sea to Bassora, 3 days by sea to Bagdad, and 22
days by road to Halab.
Jassim said that the high caste Arab, 14-3 to 15 hands in height, 4 or 5
years old, 8 inches shank, and 68 or 69 inches in girth, could be bought in
Arabia for about 80 guineas, or say Rs. 1,100. The expenses thence to