Observations on the breeding of horses, within the Provinces under the Bengal establishment, submitted to the consideration of the President and members of the Board of Superintendence [of the East India Company, 1814].

  • Moorcroft, William.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Observations on the breeding of horses, within the Provinces under the Bengal establishment, submitted to the consideration of the President and members of the Board of Superintendence [of the East India Company, 1814]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    61/72 (page 46)
    ( 46 ) Would floarüih if pre- scríbed by ibe lixub- muns. tn Knp:1an<i StAllioDS are kept ior hire by per- eons of Г4шк. ia India only by ]>eoi»Í€ of the lowest order. StAÎlions kept for biro by wc;Utby b&nd-holdcrs would much promote permaueucy of breed. StftlHon-keopcTK, Iby- pooU and Mv-xs^imane. Were a Bralimun to discover a reading of tLe Sbastraa prescribing the pursuit of Horse-breeding to some widely difíused caste of Hindoos, and this Avere credited, it would only be necessary for Government to find the first mate¬ rials, and to collect the produce. By an impulse once given through religious authority, the supply would keep pace with the demand, and stability would be ensured. Butas лтс, iloe fugitiveness of tJie ra«c throws a doubt upon the lasting success of every plan of .breeding, save that perhaps, which retains a property ia the Mares. The Avhole subject involves much difficulty. In Europe, demand may create supply through the want being made public, but in India though the raw material be at hand, the mode of working it not difficult, and the profit сег-tain, more still is sometimes required. Prejudice must be up¬ rooted, or neutrahzed, or satisfied. In England, Stallions are kept for the use of the public, by individuals of all ranks, firom the Prince to the farmer. No feeling of indelicacy is raised by earning money in this manner. Il But no Moosulman of reputation, no Hindoo of respectability will keep a Stallion for hire. Shame deters the former, caste prevents the latter taking money for such a purpose. D Yet the Moosulman is a slave to licentiousness, the Í Hindoo to the desire of wealth. Could the 'practice of JceejUTig Stallions for hire be introduced amongst respect¬ able land-holders, it would contribute to increase breeding and to give it ретшжшу. Their interest would induce them to encourage amongst the farmers an occupation directly beneficial to themselves. But hitherto I have aimed at this in vain. Several have promised, but all have shrunk from the performance, even when they have been offered the loan of Horses belonging to the Stud. A caste of Rajpoots, a dissipated cla.ss of Moosulmans are now the keepers of Stallions for hire. When not furnished with good Stallions from the State, they purchase Horses Or, wus it supposed that Ilorse-breeding could not flourish in India, or •was unnecessary? If there exist a duo which could lead to the cause, the resenrch would be not devoid of interest.