A History of Agriculture in India v2.c79.s1: Breeding

v2.c79.s1.1

Much attention was given to the breeding of horses in Mughal India. 'Skilful, experienced men have paid much attention to the breeding of this sensible animal, many of whose habits resemble those of man,' states Abu-l-Fazl, 'and after a short time Hindustan ranked higher in this respect than Arabia, whilst many Indian horses cannot be distinguished from the Arabian or the Iraqi breed. There are fine horses bred in every part of the country; but those of Kachh excel, being equal to the Arabian. It is said that a long time ago an Arab ship was wrecked and driven to the shore of Kachh; and that it had seven choice horses, from which, according to the general belief, the breed of that country originated. In the Panjab, horses are bred resembling Iraqis, especially between the Indus and the Jhelum; they go by the name of Sanuji; so also in the district of Pati Haybatpur, Bajwaral, Tihara, in the Suba of Agra, Mewat, and in the Suba of Ajmer, where the horses have the name of *pachwariya*. In the northern mountainous district of Hindustan, a kind of small but strong horse is bred, which is called *gut*; and in the confine of Bengal, near Cooch Bihar, another kind of horses occurs, which rank between the *gut* and the Turkish horses, and are called *tanghan*; they are strong and powerful.'