Page 28 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

16 ADMINISTRATION REPORT or TIIR PERSIAN dULF POLITICAL

and carrying power must be good indeed. In 1877 seventeen mules
from Ffi’rs were shipped to the Bombay Government for service in the
mountain batteries, and the Adjutant-Gcucral of the Army the follow­
ing year writes
<< The mules sent from Persia last year were of a good stamp and
have turned out well/'
Districts of Persia where the mule is em/jloyed.-*—Mu\cb are exten­
sively employed for carrying purposes throughout the south-western
and western parts of Persia. In all the eastern districts, Khorassan,
Yezd, Kermdn,Seistan, and Persian Mckran, the carriage of the country
is almost altogether performed by camels, but in the south-western and
western districts, Fdrs, Behbckan, Isfahan, Arabistan, Khuzistdn,.
Luristin, Koordistan, Kirmanshah, Hamadan, Teheran, and Azerbaijan,
mules and donkeys replace the camel to a very large extent, aud in some
places the mule almost monopolizes the carrying trade. For the rough,
stony roads, or rather tracts (for roads there are none), throughout these
districts the mule is admirably adapted, and the Persians are by no means
blind to his good qualities.
By whom bred.—The population of south-western Persia may be
divided into two distinct classes: the settled, Dehati or Dehnishin,
dwellers in villages; and the nomad, Eeliyat or Chadrnishin, the dweller
in tents. It is by the latter that the mules are bred. A few are bred
here and there among th'; villagers, but their number is inconsiderable.
It sometimes happens also that some of the brood mares among the
Eeliy&t herds belong to villagers who pay the Eeliyats for sendiug them
and breeding mules from them.
Breeding.—Mules are bred from mares. They say that a very few
are bred from the female donkey, but that they are small and inferior in
every respect. The method of breeding is as follows :—The mans from
which it is intended to breed are placed apart and carefully herded in
pastures by themselves. The number of marcs in each herd varies, and
these mares generally belong to different owners, each man owning from
one to ten or more. Several donkey stallions of approved breed and size
are associated with each herd. These donkeys are carefully selected for
their breed, size, and shape, and are considered very valuable animals, and
are well looked after. They are taken from their mothers when quite
young, and are placed under someof the mares. Mares which have thrown
colts are chosen for this purpose, the colts being brought up by band,
and the young donkeys substituted to the mothers. The reason for
choosing mares with colts is that fillies are much more prized among
the Persians, and great care is taken of them, while colts are but little
esteemed, and it is not considered of much consequence if they come
to grief. These donkeys growing up thus along with the mares are
accepted by them when of age. It sometimes happens that the number
of mares in a herd arc more than can be attended to by the regular donkey
stallions of the herd, and in this case, when donkeys reared udder mares
are not procurable, recourse must be had to other donkeys. Large, sound,
well-bred donkeys are then chosen, but it is necessary first to excite them
by means of a female donkey, and then to withdraw the female donkey*
and substitute a mare^

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