COMPARISON WITH OTHER ANIMALS 285 



was standing near, and sent him Hying, and lastly at 

 his own driver, whom he tumbled over like a ninepin, 

 the rest of us, scattering like chaff before the wind, took 

 refuge behind the wagons. However, we soon tackled 

 him, and put him in the yoke again and went on ; but 

 before we got five yards he was down again, and had 

 finally to be unyoked and driven into camp. This 

 march, though only 8-J- miles long, occupied ten hours/ 



Frequently on this march between Jacobabad and 

 Candahar we were obliged specially to halt because 

 elephants and bullocks were entirely done up, and 

 suffering from galls and sore feet. ' The road ' (so I 

 wrote on December 27, 1878) ' since we left Jacobabad 

 has been dotted here and there with carcases of bullocks 

 and camels, and since Dadur it has been worse. We 

 ourselves [i.e. the battery] have been for the last three 

 weeks leaving three or four of the latter daily. Three 

 bullocks died on this day alone, a good many more are 

 lame and done up, over thirty are sick and unfit for 

 work, while others are suffering from the foot-and- 

 mouth disease. Truly a pretty state of affairs before 

 we are half way. What will it be later on ? ' 



As a draught animal the Indian bullock is not a 

 success, except in the plains of India, under favourable 

 conditions ; but in South Africa he has proved himself 

 very useful. What would have been done without him 

 it is hard to say ? One bullock in a light cart on level 

 ground can draw about 800 Ib. ; over hilly ground 

 500 Ib. A pair of bullocks on the level 1,500 Ib. 

 I am speaking of the Indian animal. In South Africa, 

 in the Colony, and more civilised parts, a team of four- 

 teen to sixteen oxen draw up to 8,000 Ib., I am told. 



