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SECTION I (MILITARY)—APPENDIX I.
Referred to in paragraph 6, page 3.
No. 31-C., dated Meerut, 22nd August 1892.
From—INSPECTING VETERINARY SURGEON J. H. B. HALLEN, Inspector-General, Civil
Veterinary Department,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Military Department.
I have the honor to submit this report regarding my visit to Hungary
for the purpose of purchasing a few stallions for the Government of India.
The attached copy of a letter from the India Office, No. M-6093, dated 5th
July 1892, contains the orders given me on the subject.
2. I received on the evening of the 7th July 1892 from the Foreign Office,
London, letters to the Embassy at Vienna and the Consul for England at
Buda Pesth explaining the purport of my mission, and on the following
morning, 8th July, I left London and arrived by the Orient express train from
Paris to Vienna on the evening of the 9th idem (Saturday). On Monday, the
11th, I visited the Embassy, also had an interview with Colonel Douglas
Dawson (Coldstream Guards), Military Attaché at Vienna, and found that I
had to proceed to Buda Pesth in order to see the Hungarian studs.
3. I accordingly left Vienna the same afternoon, and arrived at Buda
Pesth that night; not being quite well the following morning, I, by the advice
of a medical practitioner recommended by the Consul, was confined to the
house for two days. During that time the Consul (Mr. Brüll) kindly visited
me, and on my recovering from indisposition I accompanied him to the Govern-
ment Secretariat, and interviewed the Officiating Director of the Horse-Breed-
ing Department, to whom I explained my mission, and that I would like to
inspect the stallions for disposal in order that I might select those suitable
for Indian stud purposes at an average price of 2,000 florins each.
The Director then explained that it is true stallions have been sold from
the studs at so low figures as 1,000 to 2,000 florins each; but these have been
selections by the stud officials, and if I was to be allowed the selection of only
those I considered suitable, the prices would vary from 3,000 to 4,000 florins each.
4. I may here mention that the Councillor de Kozma, in charge of the
Horse-Breeding Department, had died a few days before my arrival, and the
officer in temporary charge of the office was not aware of the Austro-Hun-
garian Consul at Bombay (Herr Stockingor) having been informed by letter
from Councillor de Kozma that the Indian Government were to have as a
special case stallions at 2,000 florins each. Since my return to Bombay I
have interviewed Herr Stockinger, and on my explaining to him the reason
why I had not been able to purchase stallions, he expressed his regret that
Herr Kozma's decision as to prices had not been known to the Officiating
Director; and the attached copy of letter from him to my address is explanatory
as to cause of the mistake.
5. I, of course, informed the Officiating Director that I could not exceed
my orders as to price; but that as I had come to Hungary and was desirous of
seeing the stallions for disposal, I should be obliged by his allowing me to
make a personal inspection of the horses, especially those of pure Arab breed
and of half Arab blood; and as my time was limited by having to return to
India within three months of my having left the country, that I might be
allowed to visit the stud or studs in which the classes of stallions above noted
might be found. The Director advised my going to the Babona Stud, and he
was good enough to telegraph directions to the Stud authorities for my
reception and inspection of stock. On the 17th July, accompanied by Mr.
Brüll, the Consul, I arrived at Babona; the officer in charge of the stud gave
us a cordial reception, and we had the opportunity of seeing every head of
stock in the stud; and from notes taken I beg to record the following
information.
6. The Babona Stud is about five hours' journey by rail and road from
Buda Pesth, and consists of lands of 4,000 acres with light sandy soil; the
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