ON THE BEST BREEDING DISTRICTS (KHET) IN INDIA 11 



shy, it is not night-blind {shah-kor). If the night is veiy dark, 

 substitute for the blanket a white sheet. 



The above are what horse-dealers call the " five defects/' and 

 defects they are which few will deny. When one or all of these 

 defects exist, the horse is of course returned to its owner by the 

 purchaser. 



CHAPTER IX 



ON THE BEST BREEDING DISTRICTS {KHET) IN INDIA 



Were you to ask me where the best horses are found, I would say 

 first of all in Bhlmrdthal ; ^ its horses are hardy and capable of 

 travelling long stages on meagre food. Next to these are the 

 horses of Kdthiydwdr. Nearly, but not quite, equal to them are 

 the horses of Narjangel.^ Compared to these three breeds all 

 others are asses.'^ 



1 " Bhima Terai is the valley of the Bhiraa river, famed for its breed 

 of hardy ponies and horses. The breed is known in Northern India as the 

 Bhimrathali. Mawa, the horse which bore Holkar in many a desperate 

 strife, was of this breed. The head is a model, exhibiting the highest 

 quality of blood, — ears small and pointed, eyes full and protruding, and 

 a mouth that could drink out of a teacup. This is the type of the Bhima 

 Terai breed." — Gyclopcedia of India. 



2 Is this Nara in Sind ? 



3 The author of the " Ardisli-i Mahfil " (written A.D. 1805) states that 

 the Deccan horses were held in high esteem, but for staying powers were 

 inferior to those of Kabul. He mentions that at the defeat of King 

 Bhao, a Mahratta chief left the field alone, pursued by a Durrani. The 

 Mahratta, well mounted on a Dakhani mare, easily distanced his pursuer, 

 and when he had galloped some five or six miles, drew rein to rest. 

 Happening to look round after a time, he saw that the Durrani, his horse 

 well-nigh blown, had almost overtaken him. Once more he set spurs to 

 his horse and again stopped to rest, but again the Durraui appeared on 

 the scene urging on his slow and exhausted horse. After a fifty or sixty 

 miles' chase of this description the Dakhani mare succumbed. The 

 Durrani, pounding along on his exhausted horse once more appeared 

 on the scene, and the Hindu, recognizing his fate, allowed himself to be 

 killed. Some golden equipment and a bag of money rewarded the per- 

 severance of the " Mughal," but the mare he did not consider worth 

 leading back to camp. 



The king's real name was Shibdas Rao, and he was known as Bhao 

 (= bhai, brother). The battle was fought on January 12th, 1761 A.D. 



