128

KIND OF CATTLE

1915-16

1919—30

1924-25

1926—27

Increase (+) or
decrease (— )
over the
number in
1915-w

Goats | 474 | 477 | 756 | 494 | + 20
Sheep | 182 | 124 | 108 | 98 | -84
Total number of | | | | |
ovine cattle.^1 | 656 | 601 | 864 | 592 | -64
Total strength of | | | | |
cattle .... | 2740 | 2507 | 2841 | 2329 | -411
The facts established by this table are :
(i) Twice in the history of Atgam during the last 12
years the total number or cattle decreased.
(ii) With the exception of goats, there is an all round
decrease in the number of cattle in the year of enquiry.
Both these facts have an interesting history behind
them which throws considerable light on the cattle-prob-
lem of the village. The fall in the number of bovine
cattle in the year 1919-20 was found to be, on personal
enquiry, due to the famine and influenza of 1918-19 and
the sudden rise in the price of hay. During the course
of our enquiry about the effects of the famine of this year,
we came across an instructive illustration which we may
note with advantage.
One of the cultivators who had half a dozen cattle,
found it very difficult to purchase hay at high prices.
But one day his heart melted. He could tolerate his
pet animals turning their pitiable heads towards him no
longer whenever he stepped into - his cattle-shed. So
he ran to one of the local sowkars and requested him to
lend a few rupees on the security of his ring. The sow-
kar gave him one rupee. . On the latter's desiring to
have grass instead of a rupee he was given six bundles
1'Though we consider ovine animals as cattle here, in the general considera-
tion of the cattle problem of this village, we have ignored them as they
are usually not- regarded as cattle.