‘Military report on south-west Persia, including the provinces of Khúzistán (Arabistan), Luristán and part of Fars.’ [‎66r] (136/470)

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wives, will pitch his camp in the form of an oval, into the centre of which
the flocks of sheep, goats, &c., will he driven. In the centre of each is dug
a hole for the fire. Beds are unknown ; quilts are in general use (see page 54).
These tents are poor winter residences, the wind blows through them;
the rain pours through them, and except in fair sunny weather, their inhabit
ants have no pleasant time of it.
There are but few Arab horses in the country, possessed by the chiefs ;
IIors(ig the hill horses are of mixed breed; they average 1-1
hands in height, are sure-footed, and capable of under
going considerable fatigue; the rate of their walk averages 4 miles an hour ;
they are ill-shaped ; but few, if any, horses are so suited for the hilly country
in which they are bred and the stony and uneven country over which they
are worked. A fair price for a good horse of Lur breed is 120 to 150 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
The Lurs are ignorant of horse breeding, of the good points of a horse,
of their treatment in sickness, &c., &c.; the Kashgai breed of horses is no
longer famous; breeders no sooner reared a good foal than they were com
pelled to present it to any superior who took a fancy to it (see page 109).
Good mares are kept for breeding mules, and in each encampment there is
generally one good donkey stallion. Mares are generally ridden, fillies kept,
and colts sold.
The mules are of excellent quality and carry loads of 300 lbs., exclusive
Mulos of the pad and trappings. The pad in use cannot be
surpassed for excellence; it is 6 inches to 8 inches thick,
stuffed with straw and cotton, and worked to fit the shape of the animal. It is
Pack-animal equip- raised both in front and rear and kept in place by breast-
raent - piece and breeching, both about 6 inches wide, of stout
leather. The loads are fastened together by ropes made of camels’ hair and
balanced on either side, care being taken to bring the loads to bear high up on
the animal’s back.
Over the load and under the belly is passed a broad surcingle to keep the
whole 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.
The weight of the mule equipment, including the above, and saddle cloth
or jhool, head stall, ropes, nose bag, &c., &c., is 60 lbs., and its cost 37 to 40
krans (15 to 16 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ) (see page 143).
The female mule is preferred to the male, she being considered the stronger
and more enduring. Mules are bred from mares ; those
Mulcs • bred from female donkeys are small and inferior. At
the age of two years* the males are castrated. The young mule is allowed to
graze with the herd until three years of age; it is then either sold or trained
to work; the training occupies one year, after which the mule is fit for service.
Their stamina and endurance are remarkable, and their sure-footedness extraor
dinary. When required, they may be taken 60 miles at a stretch. Tor numbers,
see page 138.
A good mule costs from 100 to 150 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ; they are not numerous. The
best mules are of a short build, small, and well proportioned. An average
load for a Persian mule is 260 to 320 lbs. This load he will carry daily a
stage of 20 to 25 miles without halts. Tor rations, see page 83.
Donkeys are numerous, each village or encampment of any size possessing
from 50 to 100. Every villager has his donkey. They
Donkeys. are m ore numerous in the valleys and plains than in the
hills, where their place amongst the Iliyats is taken by cows. They carry
loads of 200 lbs., 15 miles daily, for days consecutively, and form the chief