196 UNASKED ADVICE. 



would tliink that Englislimen could do what native 

 horsemen can, but apparently their rulers thought 

 differently, and where almost all horses are imported 

 there is no temptation to employ mares_, simply because 

 they are not shown as remounts. Stallions being out of 

 fashion for the ranks of India, mares may be used, but 

 the advantage, if it be one, is gained at too high a price. 

 A stallion has his drawbacks — he may be noisy or quar- 

 relsome — but I think there is no doubt about his supe- 

 rior powers of endurance, and of roughing it generally. 

 Mares are all very well, but at certain seasons not to be 

 depended upon. Our Indian cavalry can, or at all events 

 a few years ago could, march and campaign in a way 

 that would puzzle the same regiments in England, and 

 how is this ? They were mounted on entire horses — as 

 much as possible on Arabs or Persians — and they did 

 not carry an excess of dead weight. 



Colonel Haly, in a recent letter in the Field, states as 

 his opinion that the little Arabs of the 17th Lancers, 

 which he saw at Bangalore (I think) were over-weighted. 

 Then arises the question, '^^What is being over- 

 weighted ?" As long as a horse looks well, works 

 cheerfully, and is fresh on his legs, I should not consider 

 that he was carrying too great a weight ; and the 1 7th 

 troopers answered this description. And they had been 

 knocked about a good deal in the year ■'58 ; had, in fact, en- 

 joyed rather " monkey^ s allowance" than otherwise. And 

 what was the experience of this campaign ? Simply that 

 the Arabs could, and did, wear out the Capes and Walers, 

 who, though so much larger, could not hold a candle to 

 their little comrades, when long marches and short 

 commons were the order of the day. These horses 

 carried neither sheepskins, shabraches, nor valises, but a 



