130 MULES AND MULE BBEEBING. 



commences by laying several strips of a soft material, such as 

 old woollen blanketing, along each side of the animal's back- 

 bone, extending from the withers to the quarters. The country 

 name for this padding is ' maUi.' The horse blanket, or ' jhool,' 

 as it is sometimes called — ' jhool ' being the Indian name for 

 the clothing of all transport animals — ^is then folded double or 

 quadruple, according to its size, and placed on the animal's 

 back over the 'maUi.' The 'soonda' is now placed on the 

 blanket, and the whole gear bound tightly on to the animal by 

 the ' dotunga.' The object of the ' soonda ' is to keep the load 

 from pressing on the animal's spine, and to distribute the 

 pressure evenly along the back. It is made by stuffing with 

 reeds or stout straw a long bag made of canvas or blanketing. 

 This bag, which is like a six-foot sausage, and as thick as an 

 ordinary wine bottle, is then bent into the shape of a cylindrical 

 sugar-tongs, the legs of which are kept from splaying out by 

 ' keepers ' of canvas or blanketing. When placed in position 

 on the aniinal's back, the bent end is a little in rear of the 

 withers, and the spine is between the two legs. The ' dotunga ' 

 is simply a canvas cover or body roller, fitted with girths, and 

 sometimes with breast and breech pieces ; the latter, however, 

 are usually made of tape or string. The ' dotunga ' is placed 

 over the ' soonda ' in the centre of the back, and when girthed 

 up, binds aU the gear together. The load is now slung over 

 the animal and lashed on. The Government gear mainly 

 consists in replacing the canvas ' dotunga ' by a species of saddle 

 made of two well-stufEed leather flaps, fastened by leather 

 bands, and fitted with strong girths, crupper, and leather breast 

 and breech pieces. The saddle is placed so that the leather 

 bands rest on the ' soonda,' and the stufEed flaps protect the 

 sides of the animal. Two iron rings are fitted to each flap, so 

 that the load can be firmly attached to the saddle. The load is 

 carried either in a ' suUetah ' or a ' sUng,' or simply lashed on. 

 The transport ' suUetah ' is a double bag, made of coarse canvas, 

 sacking, or cloth. Its size depends on the animal it is required 

 for— elephant, camel, or mule. It may easily be made by 

 folding a broad strip of material until the ends meet in the 



