BULLOCKS. 147 



Northern Bullocks of the United Provinces and Punjab, whence 

 the majority of our Army Bullocks are drawn. 



In days gone by, heavy artillery batteries employed Bullocks 

 of the Siege Train Class for the Wagons, and from an animal 

 management point they were perfect. 



Putting aside the matter of contagious ailments, which consti- 

 tute the most serious obstacle for the successful employment of 

 bullocks in war, and probably let one down at the very moment 

 when there should be no hitch in proceedings, I have gone 

 carefully into all the records and Veterinary reports of the 

 various Expeditions on the Frontier, and there is, after all, 

 something to be said in their favour. I take little notice of the 

 Kohat-Kurram Force of 1879-80, as the bullocks on that 

 occasion, which were considerable, would appear to have 

 included a large proportion of physically unfit animals of a 

 type unsuitable for pack work, and moreover one cannot blame 

 animals from suffering terribly from sore-backs when no proper 

 equipment was at first in use. It is inviting disaster to sling 

 loads by ropes over a pad and folded jhool without a soonka. 



The Inspecting Veterinary Officer of the Chitral Belief Force, 

 in spite of 1290 having died from Rinderpest out of 6363 hired 

 pack Bullocks, and 3675 cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, 

 could still say " Notwithstanding all, by dint of unceasing 

 inspections, withdrawals, and isolations, the bullock pack 

 transport kept on moving, and did some of the best work on 

 the campaign." 



With 4413 Government, and 9314 Hired Bullocks, and with 

 one outbreak of Rinderpest and two outbreaks of Foot-and- 

 Mouth Disease, the Inspecting Veterinary Officer of the Tirah 

 Expeditionary Force reported that " There were no faults to be 

 found with the bullocks .... On the whole they were a 

 good lot." They were only used for wheeled transport; no 

 pack. 



Again, on the Tibet Mission, after the stamping out of 

 Rinderpest and Foot-and-Mouth Disease. " The Bullock Cart 

 Train, the first and second Bullock Pack Corps did excellent 

 work between Silliguri, Guntak and Lingtam for the greater 

 part of the expedition, but long days and heavy roads told in 



