200 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
The packing cases of the reserve, and those in which the battery itself 
was packed were excellent; their size enabled them to be easily handled, 
and they have been very useful. 
Mules. 
The average height of the mules employed with the batteries was about 
14 hands; some, however, of the best were very small indeed, procured 
either from Cyprus or Smyrna. Those from Italy and Valencia are chiefly 
of a dark-brown colour, while the Gibraltar mules are distinguished by 
the zebra mark clearly defined along the back and down the shoulders. 
In selection, the chief points attended to have been— 
Breadth of chest, a full and arched back, large girth, good legs and feet, age 
about six. 
Many that have been already saddled bear the marks in white patches on 
their backs. 
A short mule about lS’l, possessing the good qualities above noted, 
seems well fitted for mountain artillery; the larger mules break down as 
soon as the supply of forage is reduced. 
In comparing the loads put upon animals of this size with those 
ordinarily carried by pack mules, it must be remembered that the mules of 
the batteries were subject to hard marching on a short ration from the end 
of January to the end of May. 
Hation at Zulla —8lbs. beans; hay or chopped straw, 15 lbs. 
The condition of those of “A” Battery at the conclusion of the 
expedition, and the small loss they had sustained were subjects of general 
remark. 
The mules of “ B ” Battery had a larger share of convoy duty before 
leaving Zulla, and more incessant marching to get to the front, while a 
larger reduction had been made in the native establishment of this battery 
than in that of “ A,” so that greater difficulty occurred in procuring grass j 
hence they could not be compared with those of “ A/’ but were in better 
condition than the animals of the Land Transport Corps* Carrying loads of 
150 lbs. tinly* 
Mules givilig much trouble in saddling were exchanged before we left 
Zulla; such should neyer be given to the artillery. 
Two or more Maltese carts would be usefully einployed with any mountain 
battery where the roads are tolerably good; All battery mules, of sufficient 
Size, should be broken for draught. 
The girthing of mules requires great care, heaVy loads reducing the bulk 
of the pads and causing the girths to slacken. The girths of the Otago 
saddle were in general too long. 
Establishment . 
The Abyssinian Expedition may be considered an exceptional case, in the 
length of the march the army was called upon to make, and the very 
difficult nature of the country traversed. Though an unusually healthy 
climate did much to lighten the labours of the troops and prevent sickness; 
yet neither this good fortune, nor immunity from loss in actual fighting 
could be calculated on, and the whole of the artillery of the 1st Division 
ran great risk of becoming ineffective in being much below the requisite 
strength. 
