9
51. The Government of India, therefore, considered that there were strong-
economic and geographical reasons for the change. In reply, the Government of
India notified that the transfer, as far as horse and mule-breeding in Sind was
concerned, would take place from 1st April, 1898.
52. In accordance with this decision, I proceeded to Ahmednagar and went
over the accounts carefully, and obtained from the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, all information concerning the working of the horse and mule-breed-
ing industries in Sind. I was then in a position to show the Government of India
approximately, the cost in addition to the amount contributed by Bombay, which
would have to be borne by Imperial Funds; but, in the interests of Government
I trust that this amount will actually be exceeded, for as this country requires
more mules, we must endeavour to develop mule-breeding in Sind, and it is only
natural to expect that as development takes place so expenditure will increase
proportionately.
53. I am pleased to be able to report that this change has taken place, for I
feel convinced that when the new system is thoroughly started, its effects will be
far reaching.
1st.—It will free the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay,
of the charge of a Province which was far distant from his Head
Quarters, and as horse-breeding operations in the Deccan are very
trifling, and as mule-breeding may be said to be non-existent, it will
enable him to devote a great portion of his time to the welfare of the
cattle of the Presidency.
2nd.—Horse-breeding in the Upper Sind Frontier District is so closely allied
with that of Baluchistan that it will enable the Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, of the latter Province to more closely super-
vise the operations in both.
3rd.—The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Baluchistan, who
will now be in charge, having been relieved of his duties connected
with the Derajat Division of the Punjab, will be able to devote more
time to Sind than has been done during past years. This will, I
feel assured, tend to the better working of the Department in that
Province. To effect this we shall require the loyal co-operation of the
District Officers, without whose help little can be done, but I feel
convinced that, when it is considered that the matter is one of local as
well as of Imperial interest, and that the breeder is a great gainer by
the operations carried on at Government expense, all District Officers
will heartily aid the efforts of Veterinary-Captain Maxwell to whom
this charge has been entrusted.
54. The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, Bombay, has entered
most fully into the horse and mule-breeding prospects of Sind, and has furnished
information which will be invaluable to the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, Baluchistan, who has just taken it over. Referring to the transfer,
Veterinary-Captain Morgan states:—
I take this opportunity of giving a few details in connection with this Province (Sind) that may be of
assistance to the abovenamed Officer, and further to point out that a mistaken idea appears to have crept into
the Government of India's letter No.l868-66-2, dated 16th December 1897, Revenue and Agricultural Department,
to the effect that the whole of Sind is a tract of country which only requires to be thoroughly opened out to, at
once yield good and promising results both in horse and mule-breeding. I need hardly say that this is not the
case, and that it differs from its neighbour, Baluchistan, as much as it is possible for two countries bordering
each other to do. Parts of Sind are absolutely worthless from a horse-breeding point of view, and unless it is
possible to make a considerable change, both in the condition of the country and the ideas of the people, no
efforts on the part of the Civil Veterinary Department are ever likely to be attended with the success that the
letter would warrant one to suppose.
*******
My experience of Sind now extends over a period of six years, and I would respectfully beg to state that
during that time that there are few parts of it, of which I have not made myself thoroughly acquainted I have
averaged 50 days a year travelling through the Province, and have come to the conclusion that the pure Sindhi
would rather breed mules than horses, and would suggest that this industry be pushed to its very limit. All young
stock bought for the Government Rearing Depôts have been bred by the Baluchi's in the Jacobabad district,
and not a single one to my knowledge has ever been bred and sold to Government by a Sindhi.
I trust that it will be possible to greatly develop mule-breeding in this
Province.
Number of
stallions at stud
work.
55. The number of stallions at stud work is shown in Table IV.—
66 were employed in the North-Western Provinces out of 95 on the
Register, but of these, 17 were unallotted; the numbers really are
66 out of 78.