AUG ‘*71894 
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THE BREEDING STUD OF AN INDIAN PRINCE>>~_ . ~ 
aware of any record of a satisfactory trial; but I have been told by 
men well acquainted with the country that if you sent a “Khatty" 
man on his own horse, on an urgent message, for thirty or forty miles 
across a rough country, it would take a very good Englishman to beat 
him. The different castes of breeds are jealously observed, as are the 
traditions regarding them ; for instance, in the Pirani Tajan horses, 
which have the reputed merit of conveying their masters, if wouuded 
in battle, out of action to their homes. In modern warfare, similar 
conduct on the part of a charger, might lead to misunderstandings with 
the military authorities. 
The Maharajah holds a horse show every year, at which the animals 
bred in his paddocks are exhibited, but for classification only; the 
prizes, rather over 2000 rupees in value, being taken by the other ex¬ 
hibitors. This year there were about 420 horses entered, an increase 
of 100 over the entry of last year; all expenses are defrayed by the 
Durbar, and as may be expected from an idea conceived and carried 
out on so liberal a scale, the show is becoming very popular. I w T as 
asked to act as one of the judges, an office I accepted with a great deal 
of pleasure; and I may say that the kindness and hospitality which I 
received while at Bhavnagar, could not have been exceeded. 
Mr. Proctor Sims, the State Engineer, is a man of many parts; from 
his designs, and under his supervision, the numerous public works 
which have sprung into existence during the last twenty years, have 
been executed; and it is owing to his skilful administration that the 
Bhavnagar stud has attained its prominent position; it is scarcely 
necessary, therefore, to state that the arrangements of the show, made 
by him, left nothing to be desired. 
The show was held in the new park, which was gaily decorated with 
arches and flags, and an immense marquee was pitched as a shelter 
from the sun ; there were a fair number of spectators, and next year, 
when jumping will be included in the programme, the day will be cele¬ 
brated as a state holiday. This year a couple of jumps were put in 
front of the marquee, on the second day of the show, and encouraged 
by the example of Bhav Singji, the eldest son of the Maharajah, who 
rode his own two mares—both bred in his father's paddocks—pluckily 
and well, several of the Imperial Lancers and some natives jumped their 
horses in good style, mostly riding bare-backed. It was interesting to 
observe how the incidents usual at a jumping competition—the refusal 
of a horse, the loss of a turban, the struggle of a rider to maintain his 
seat—upset the Oriental gravity of the spectators and moved them to 
mirth, as similar occurrences do lookers-on in western lauds. There 
were a good many animals in the show-yard of an inferior quality, but 
there were a few of the higher types of Khatiawar horses. Perhaps 
the best animal in the show (putting aside the horses belonging to the 
stud) was a dun pony with black points, a model of strength and full 
of character; I believe he was afterwards bought for the stud. 
Another notable animal was a beautiful white mare, who might well 
have inspired Browning's poem of C( Muley Keli." Indeed, if the 
“ Khatty " mare of the highest castes had been studied by the poets I 
believe she would have supplanted the Arab as a subject for their songs. 
