980 Report on subjects connected with Afghaiiistan. [No. 120. 



Although not with strict propriety referable to a division headed 

 Natural Products, which, in the excellent statistical arrangement of 

 that wonderful man. Dr. Buchanan Hamilton, is limited to those things 

 supplied by nature without the assistance of man, I have appended to 

 my brief notices of the wild animals, those of a domestic nature. 



Domestic Animals. — These are horses, ponies or yaboos, asses, 

 mules, camels, or dromedaries, oxen, buffaloes, sheep, goats, dogs and 

 cats. On the whole in this branch of domestic property, Afghanistan 

 may be considered as rather rich. 



Horses. — The horses are heavy, but are said to be enduring. I sus- 

 pect that their qualities, as well as those of the Toorkistan horses, have 

 been a good deal overrated. On this point, however, I am not compe- 

 tent to remark, besides Government must be in possession of abundant 

 information, as to their value for Cavalry or Draft purposes. The 

 mode of treatment of horses by the Afghans differs considerably from 

 that in use among us. Afghan horses have their stated and defined 

 meals; with us, food is always before them. I think the Afghan plan 

 is the more natural of the two. 



Ponies. — The ponies are chiefly used as beasts of burden, for which 

 purpose the larger and stronger kinds are admirably adapted. These, 

 however, are not easily procurable. Although expensive to feed 

 and keep in good condition, the quickness with which they get over 

 the ground, and the ease with which they surmount the obstacles 

 presented by bad roads, renders them greatly preferable to camels. 



Asses. — The native asses are not very fine, but those imported from 

 Turkistan are perhaps among the finest. The males are sent across 

 the mountains, they are generally white, have their nostrils slit, and 

 fetch a high price, say 100 to 120 Rs. at Cabul. 



Mules. — Very few fine mules are procurable even for very high 

 sums. Although not so fast as yaboos, which in the hands of Afghan 

 drivers seated on the top of a load of 3 and 4 maunds, will go at the rate 

 of 5 miles an hour for 15 miles; they are more enduring, and much 

 less expensive to keep ; on the other hand, they are said to be more 

 liable to be galled. 



Dromedary. — The Afghan dromedary is decidedly a very fine 

 animal, remarkably different in general configuration from that of 

 IlindoostaU; having a round, handsome, and compact barrel, and short 



