SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES. 



495 



The Basuto pony (Figs. 502 and 503) is a useful though 

 ill-defined animal, whose name has become well known in 

 England by his honourable connection with the late Boer 

 war. An entirely unsupported story is current that his 

 origin is due to a cross between Shetland pony stallions 

 and Orange Colony mares. Mr. L. Barrett, Assistant- 

 Commissioner, Basutoland, who has lived in that country 

 since 1882, and who is consequently a reliable authority 



I'hoto by] 



Fig. 503. — Well-bred Basuto pony (13.2). 



[M. H. H. 



on this subject, entirely discredits that story. He writes 

 in The Field (19th October, igoi) as follows about " The 

 Basuto Pony " : 



" When the territory recently known as the Orange Free 

 State began to be occupied by Dutch farmers about the 

 year 1845, the Basuto were largely employed by them as 

 farm servants, and were paid for their services with stock- 

 mares, cattle and sheep. This practice has continued, except 

 when interrupted by wars, up to the present time. Besides 

 this, droves of mares have been brought into Basutoland 



