440 
THE KING AND VIZIER. 
unfit, which would at once set this matter at rest. I am 
sorry I have torn up my list of stallions up to 1 834, but all 
this can be procured from the same source for the last half 
century — undeniable evidence. To the use of the Arab as 
a stallion, with discretion , I have no objection. The Govern- 
ment might try the experiment of a home stud, with horses 
selected by Captain Nolan while in the East, and mares 
adapted to produce stallions to get horses for cavalry ; but 
confine it to the neighbourhood of the royal forests, and let 
cavalry officers alone be judges of the result, and not extend 
it to our present horse-breeding counties without their advice 
and decision whether or not the stock answers their purpose; 
for we have too many Galloway nags at present, unfit for 
anything but irregular cavalry. 
The prices paid for colts at the central stud, where the 
mares were originally the property of the Government, is 
according to value, 100 rupees, 120 to 140 rupees. The price 
of the Native Cavalry horse is 400 Furrackabad rupees; 
Dragoon and Horse Artillery, 430 rupees; or £38 8s., and 
£42 l6s. Now, if English farmers got these prices for their 
produce, they would breed plenty of horses for the army ; 
whereas in India it scarcely operates as an encouragement to 
do so, the habits of the people being different. The Zuman- 
dars, or farmers there, who breed horses, have formerly bred 
them to mount themselves or sons as soldiers. They come 
before you, not like an English tenant farmer, leading his 
mare or colt ; but mounted, armed, ready to kill and plunder 
anybody for any one who w ill pay one rupee per day for such 
services of himself and horse, the cost of breeding and 
rearing which, from the cheapness of horse food, is a mere 
trifle — grain being 70lbs. to 80lbs. for two shillings : vide price 
current. Grass can be had for the labour of cutting it at 
any time of the year. 
It Qosts the English farmer, even where he has the ad- 
vantages of common right, at least 3s. per w r eek to rear 
an army colt, which from weaning time to four years old is 
£23 8s., and the army price is only £26 5s., therefore he 
does not breed horses for the army ; but as part of the keep 
of the mare, when her services are not available, must be 
added, he can only make a profit by selling the colt at three 
years old. This is only round numbers, without the incidental 
expenses of breeding being taken into consideration. 
