Of this gram, a horse will eat from three to six seers, (of 2lb. each,) according to his size or appetite; half in the morning, and half at night. When high fed, and but little rode, the most valuable horses, in particular, become victims to the bursautty; which, though it disappears in the spring and summer, invariably returns, generally, too, with encreased force, during every rainy season. As yet, no cure has been discovered for this ruinous disease, though numbers of gentlemen, of eminent abilities, have devoted their attention towards its eradication: its abatement has, in some instances, been effected; but, notwithstanding the utmost skill and perseverance, the blotches have returned, in sufficient force to satisfy all medical men, that no decided mode of treatment, and no general specific, has, hitherto, been established.
The exemption of tattoos, for the most part, from so formidable a distemper, seems to indicate their peculiar fitness for the climate: it matters not whether nature first planted them on the soil, or whether, by long continuance, they have become habituated to it, so completely as to defy that virulence with which the climate attacks strange animals. Wandering among all the puddles and jungles at every season; and subsisting on the remains of temporary verdure; ultimately, indeed, browsing, or devouring, the withered remains of long grass; these useful animals contract no disease, save what may be engendered by such absolute scarcity as would go nigh to starve a donkey!
The next breed of horses, in point of strength and hardiness, is the tanian, a small kind, obviously distinct from all the other breeds of India, and peculiar to the Thibet and Bootan countries, that lie at the back of our eastern and northern frontier, all the way from Assam to Sirinagur: allowing for the intervention of the Nepaul Rajah’s dominions. These horses are, with few exceptions, piebald; though a few are seen entirely of one color. The breed may be characterized in a few words, viz. that they are remarkably stout, hog-maned, have short bushy tails, very short necks, and large heads.
The Bootan merchants, who come down yearly with various articles of manufacture, such as mats, cloths, &c., of a very peculiar kind, by no means displeasing in their patterns, commonly lade their goods upon tanians, which they dispose of ultimately for a small sum, perhaps from twenty-five to sixty rupees each; reserving, however, a few, whereon to transport the British woollens, and other articles they obtain from the produce of their sales.
Great numbers of the natives of Bengal, who are in good circumstances, or are obliged to attend daily at particular offices, &c., ride on tanians; which, though not to be termed quiet, are far more so than tattoos in general. These good folks abominate a trot, as being uneasy and heating; and not one of them would so far demean himself as to be seen gallopping! This has given rise to the general adoption of that unnatural, but very easy, pace called the ‘amble,’ in which a horse moves the fore and hinder feet of the same side at one time. It is singular, that this mode of going should be so pleasant in a horse, when, in the elephant, whose natural mode of gait it is, there should result from it the only inconvenience with which the motion of that animal is attended.
Tanians rarely exceed thirteen hands in height, but their powers are wonderfully great; they are capable of enduring great fatigue, and, though by no means sightly in a chariot, will perform journies equal to what might be expected from larger animals. In general, they are rather fiery, but, by gentle usage, shew sufficient coolness and temper for most purposes. Like most mountain-bred horses, they are sure-footed, and, when left to themselves, pick the best road with great circumspection; proceeding at an easy pace, which they will keep up for many hours. I know not of any breed better qualified for drawing a light small chaise, where great speed is not wanted; but figure must be out of the question.
The Serissah, or Durbungah-tazee, derives its name from the places where great numbers are bred. These horses are generally of a light make, and, when young, promise to turn out well; but, as they approach their full standard, lose many good points, and, for the most part, become rather vicious. They are, however, extremely serviceable as hacks, and generally make good hog-hunters: occasionally, valuable horses are found among them; and it is to be hoped, that, as the Company’s stalions are let out at low rates, to cover such good mares as may be tendered at their stud, there will soon be effected an immense improvement in the general stock of North Bahar.
This, in fact, seems to be one of the prominent features in the establishment of the stud, and promises to become very conspicuously successful; though it is to be lamented, that the native breeders, owing to a want of liberal ideas, and of expanded views, are too apt to adopt that narrow policy, which prompts to the doing that badly for sixpence, which may be well done for a penny more! Time will probably overcome such an absurd system, and convince them that the payment of a few rupees, or the subscribing to certain regulations, adopted for the general improvement of property, so far from being detrimental, are the surest means of obtaining a substantial profit, in the most speedy manner.
There are annual fairs, called maylahs, in various parts of the country, where the horses of this breed (i.e. serissahs,) are exhibited in immense numbers. The greater part of them are exposed annually at Buxar, and are purchased by the natives, either for their own use, or for re-sale in various parts. It is curious, but true, that, some years ago, a great number of horses that had been taken from Durbungah into the Maharrattah country, were purchased there for the supply of the Company’s regiments. Formerly, the immense body of cavalry paid by the Nabob Vizier of Oude, used to be mounted by horses from North Bahar, but, since that worthless gang have been sent ‘to the right about,’ the demand created by that establishment has been almost wholly done away. Still, however, the prices have not, so far as I can learn, fallen: they probably are upheld by our encreased strength of cavalry regiments.
The price of a serissah is not to be easily defined; a very large portion of them sell for less than one hundred, while some reach as high as six hundred, rupees: at a medium, we may affix a hundred and fifty rupees at a fair standard, if the purchase be made at a fair, but, if second-hand, from a horse-dealer, from fifty to a hundred per cent, may be added. I have known very handsome sets, of four and six, purchased at Buxar, averaging fifteen hands and a half, that were purchased for about two hundred rupees each, and re-sold, to friends, for five and six hundred, a few weeks after!