Page 30 - PERSIAN 2 1879_1883

18 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL

in the hot weather, half an hour after the evening- feed, half an hour
before the morning feed, and again about mid-day.
Grooming.—On the march mules arc groomed once about 4 p.*.
each day; when halted generally twice, morning and evening. The
ratio of drivers to mules in a caravan is usually one to four, and each
driver must attend entirely to the four mules under his charge, grooming,
watering, feeding, and, generally, taking care of them. The grooming
is performed in a very slovenly manner; the pack-saudle bciug removed,
the mule is simply scraped all over with a rattle-trap kind of curry-comb
(kushao), and a mb given with a small hair hag (shal), and the groom­
ing is complete. The saddle is then replaced on the mule’s back not to
be removed until grooming time again comes round.
EqmjpmenL—The following is the equipment required for each mule
in a caravan
Palan, pack-saddle, that universally used throughout Persia, is
a large frame-work made of sacking stuffed with coarse rushes. It is
shaped to fit the back, the greater part of which it covers, and comes
well forward over the withers.
RoonaJd and Ashurma.—These correspond to breeching, and pre­
vent the saddle slipping forward going downhill; the roonaki being a
bread leather strap attached to the saddle at each side and fitting round
under the tail; and the ashurma, a broad piece of carpeting, fitting over
the quarters and fastened on each side to the roonaki keeping it in
position.
Tang—Girth for saddle.
Koora—This is a kind of rough woollen saddle-cloth folded and laid
over the saddle to prevent the load injuring the latter. In the cold
weather also it can be used as a jhool.
Sir-Kallah, head-stall, made of camel's hair rope with a chain
across the nose.
j)nm-Ansar—Leading rope, made of camel's hair.
Tobra—Nose-bag.
Bar-band—Camel's hair ropes to fasten on the load.
Kaf-Koohba.—This is a kind of broad surcingle to fasten over the
whole load and under the belly so as to keep the whole load tight and
compact. It is made of leather and hair with iron eyes at both ends by
means of which the ends are fastened together by a rope.
In addition to these, the following are required for every four or.
five mules:—
KusAao—Curry-comb.
Sbal—A small bag made of camel's hair answering the purpose of
a brash or wisp.
Soosan—A large packing needle to mend broken saddle, &c.
Palan-Kran—An iron scraper to clean the sweat off the saddle.
The total cost of this equipment is about 37 krans (about 1®
rupees), the saddle being the heaviest item, from 10 to 15 krans*
and the breeching and koora about 0 krans each. The weight of
the equipment is about 60 Tbs.