(Afghan Hound Database and Breed Information Exchange)
(By Steve Tillotson May 2012)
Article originally posted 5/8/2012. Article updated 5/11/12, 1/16/16
Before we get into Afghan hounds in India, I just wanted to provide some background on the countries involved - The continent of India is important in the history of The Afghan hound breed history because India was the "gateway" via which the British military officers exported their Afghan hounds to the UK from the late 1880's. The "North West Frontier" is the border between India and Afghanistan. The border beween Afghanistan and Pakistan was re-drawn in 1893 based on a plan approved by Mortimer Durand, the then "Foreign Secretary" of Colonial British India. Afghanistan has never accepted this border decision, India was occupied and ruled by the British for many years. In 1947, England granted India "independence" and partitioned India on religious demographics and created two sovereign states - The Dominion Of Pakistan and the Union Of India (now known as the Islamic Republic Of Pakistan and the Republic Of India, respectively). Baluchistan (a province in original Afghanistan) attempted to acede to the Dominion of India in 1947 but this was rejected by the Indian Prime Minister, and instead Baluchistan became part of Pakistan. The capital of Baluchistan is named Quetta and is the place reputed to be from whence several of the early Afghans came from that were exported to the UK. Top Of Page
1.1 AFGHAN HOUNDS (?) COURSING IN INDIA 1923
Top Of Page 2. SOME HISTORIC/LOST PHOTOS OF INDIA, RECENTLY DISCOVERED Recently (May 2012) the London Daily Telegraph published a series of photographs taken in Calcutta, India in 1912 that were discovered 100 years later in a shoe box in England. We have posted a few of those exciting 100 year old photographs on this page. and a temple in Calcutta at daytime. These photographs illustrate the magnificant beauty that exists in India
and a street scene in Calcutta.The harbour scene is typical of the point of entry/exit that the British Officers who exported hounds to England would have encountered. The tramp-steamers (ships) also typical of the ocean going transportation back to England and a journey that would take a couple of months to complete
India was very much more advanced/modern than Afghanistan. The British Raj had introduced organization and structure for education, health, a judicial system and developed infrastructure such as a basic clean water supply. Whilst the British were an occupying force, the Indians worked very well with the British, and indeed fought alongside the British in Afghanistan. By contrast Afghanistan had no such organization and facilities. Afghanistan was (still is today, 2012) entirely tribal/feudal and a very dangerous place to visit or to attempt to journey through. India was the base for the British Military who arrived in India by sea, then travelled overland to Afghanistan, and vice-versa when returning home. India was a staging post where military personell on active service could return to and take a break from the campaigns in Afghanistan. Communications within India were far superior and more reliable and effective than they were in Afghanistan. India was the communications "hub" via which military personal deployed in Afghanistan could communicate and share experiences (and activities, such as collecting Afghan Hounds). There is practically zero information sourced from India about our breed that is known or available, but I believe there must be some archives in existence that will enrichen our knowledge of the breeds origins if we ever uncover them. Top Of Page 3. ZARDIN AND HIS TYPE The "model" for the Afghan Hound Breed Standard was the dog Zardin, owned by Mr John Barff. Zardin was reportedly born in 1902 in Seistan Province in Iran which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan. (there is some dispute and question as regards Zardin's origin and we can't be sure where he originated from). Consider the following photograph....
This is a pack of Mr John Barff's hounds in I N D I A. Clearly, they are a similar type to Zardin. Where did this pack come from? Did Mr Barff just go into the countryside and find natives willing to sell him this superb type? Remember, Major Bell Murray describes how difficult it was to get an Afghan hound of the correct type. Well apparently Mr Barff had no such problem?? Or, maybe Mr Barff bred these Zardin type hounds? The point is that the "model" Afghan type was available in I N D I A and seemingly Major Amps and Major Bell-Murray were unable to find any hounds of Zardin's type anywhere. To me that is a very odd situation. We have photographic evidence of Mr Barff's collection of Zardin type hounds, why was it seemingly that only Mr Barff was able to collect and/or breed this model type of Afghan hound? My cynical view is that the Amps collected "their type/s" in the region of Afghanistan where the Amps were stationed, and the Bell-Murrays collected "their type/s" in the region of Afghanistan where the Bell-Murrays were stationed. Both camps had "multiple types", neither had a "pure" or single/consistent type. In fact, on hindsight Mr Barff's Zardin "type" looks the most consitent! The reality is we dont have much reliable information from Amps and Bell-Murray detailing specifically where their hounds came from. We just have their self-interested argumentative letters which caused a split in the breed for several years. Zardin arrived in England a decade before the Bell-Murrays and Amps returned to England with their hounds in 1921 and 1925. Mr Barff had long since sold Zardin to a dog breeder (Mr Shackleton) and Zardin subsequentally disappeared. So when the Amps and Bell-Murrays arrived there was no serious competition, except the competition between themselves and their type. In the process the world forgot about Zardin and his Indian kennel-mates. No Zardin like hounds existed in England and no further Zardin type imports arrived, so the breed proceeded to develop on the Ghazni/Bell-Murray hounds (and several other imports, including some later Indian ones which we will get to shortly). Top Of Page 4. DESCRIPTION OF ZARDIN The first structured document describing the Afghan hound was published in the Indian Kennel Gazette in 1906 and describes the points of the breed based on the Afghan hound Zardin. This description has been used by westerners to develop their "breed standards", so you could argue that the first breed Standard was this document and the credit goes to the Kennel Club Of India (Copy of original Gazette article, copied by Frank Townend Barton and published in 1913, shown below) - " Zardin is a light-coloured hound, almost white, with a black muzzle. He has a very long punishing jaw of peculiar power and level mouth; his head resembles that of a Deerhound, but with skull oval and prominent occiput, surmounted by a top-knot; ears fairly large, well-feathered, and hanging to side of head rather than carried to front. He has a keen, dark eye, and little or no stop. A long, strong, clean neck, fairly well arched, running in a nice curve to shoulder, which is long and sloping and well laid back; his back is strong, loin powerful and slightly arched. He, as well as all this class of hound, falls away towards stern, which is set on low, almost destitute of hair, and usually carried low. He is well ribbed, tucked up under loin; forelegs straight and strong and covered with hair; great length between elbow (which is straight) and ankle. The forefeet are long, fairly broad, and covered with long hair. Not too narrow in brisket, which is deep, with good girth of chest. Hind quarters very powerful, furnished with plenty of muscle; great length between hip and hock, which is low and strong, a fair bend in stifle, hind feet not so long as fore feet, but fairly wide and well protected with hair. The hind quarters, flanks, ribs and fore quarters are well clothed with protective hair, thick and fine in texture, showing some undercoat. The coat on the back is shorter. " He is a very handsome, strong and active-looking hound, and can, I think, be regarded as a typical specimen. The characteristics are that he is smart and upstanding, a combination of speed and power. Great length of head, length and breadth of feet, which should be well protected with hair, and graceful outline. " The height of Zardin, I should say, is about 28 inches, or nearly so." Top Of Page 5. LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT AFGHAN HOUNDS IN INDIA There is very little, if any information about Afghan hounds in India in the pivotal period of the late 1880's through to the 1920's. There is confusion as to whether certain Afghan hounds were in fact born in Afghanistan, or India. We have some information on more modern times (1950's-1960's) and include some notes and photographs of this era. We are anxious to establish a knowledgeable breed contact in India. If you are in India and have a knowledge of the breed there, we would be delighted to hear from you. If anybody has a contact in India we would appreciate being put in contact with them. Thanks, Steve. Top Of Page 6. EARLY EXPORTS FROM INDIA (Article updated Dec 2015 and Jan 2016) 1906 TO THE UK (Zardin, 1906) The most famous export was Zardin a dog bred by Capt John Barff. Zardin actually came from Seisten in Afghanistan. Capt Barf served in Afghanistan and at various times lived in Quetta as well as Peshewar (India) and Cawnpore (India). His kennels were based in India. His Zardin was the first Afghan hound exported from India to the UK in 1907. He also imported other hounds and bred from them in England (UK), however none of these offspring were regstered and we know very little about them. Zardin caused a sensation on his appearance at Crufts in 1907 and he captured the imagination of the doggie public. Zardin was also taken to Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Alexander.The breed standards worldwide are based (partially) on Zardin. So this was a stunning introduction for an Afghan hound originating in India 1924 TO THE UK (Larkbeare 1924) Clara Bowring (Larkbeare UK) imported Shahjehan Of Larkbeare from India, he was shown at Crufts and also at the Scottish Kennel Club shows. Eventually Shahjehan was re-exported to the USA and he appeared at Westminster Kennnel Club and other shows on the east coast as well as being exhibited at the Golden Gate Kennel Club show in San Francisco, California. So this Indian bred hound helped promote interest in the breed in the USA 1934/35 TO THE UK (Ardmor Anthony) around late 1934/possibly early 1935 Sgt H G Bennet upon his return from service in India, brought the dog Ardmor Anthony back with him to the UK. Ardmor Anthony is particularly important because he provided an alternative bloodine to the earlier established Ghazni and Bell Murray hounds that were imported a decade earlier from Afghanistan. Mrs Couper (Garrymhor) used Ardmor Anthony in her breeding program. The worldwide famous Chaman Kennels of Molly Sharpe (Scotland) were founded on Garrymhor stock. The importance and influence of the breedings by Mrs Couper and Molly Sharpe can not be understated. 1937 TO THE USA (Umberto), was exported to California in the USA in 1937. 1939 TO THE USA (Nerone Of Pommelrock) was exported to the Pommelrock kennel in 1939, again, this is pre-dating the east coast foundations mentioned above, and thus, a second Indian export has the distinction of making a breeding contribution earlier than the east coast foundstions. 1936 TO THE USA (Fatima) Another Indian export to the USA pre-dating the east coast foundations. Fatima was owned by Carolyne Hall Richmond of Fatima's Afghan hounds California Another female Afghan hound accompanied Fatima - Jamshedpur Souriya but little is known of her. Both hounds caried the name "Jamshedpur" as part of their kennel names, but this was eventually dropped and Jamshedpur Fatima became "Fatima"
 Studying the above news archives we are able to clarify the situation re Umberto and confirm that his country of origin was India. We we have also discovered that he travelled with another Afghan hound (a bitch named Flying Ranee) , sadly Ranee only made it as far as Honolulu before expiring. Mention of Flying Ranee is new information to us. Lyall Payne and Steve Tillotson have undertaken extensive search re Umberto, and also Nerone of Pommel Rock. There was some apparent confusion regarding their country of origin. Part of the problem was that an on line database incorrectly listed several Indian bred and India resident Afghan hounds as being bred in the UK. The confusion was compounded in that the sire of Umberto (Amanullah) as listed in the on line database stated that Amanullah was bred in the UK. However, we have established, beyond doubt that the Amanullah who is the sire of Umberto is in fact a different hound altogether, an Indian bred hound, we henceforth refer to hm as "Amanullah (IND)" to avoid confusion with the UK Amanullah. Below is a list of hounds relevent to this discussion, all of which were bred in India DOB? Khan Baber (parents unknown) BORN IN INDIA, breeder unknown, owner unknown DOB ? Dakkas Delight (parents unknown) BORN IN INDIA, breeder unknown, owner Stubbs DOB ? Shelia Beg (Khan Baber x Dakkas Delight) BORN IN INDIA, breeder Stubbs, owner Bennett DOB 29 JAN 1929 Ardmor Anthony (Khan Baber x Dakkas Delight) BORN IN INDIA, breeder Stubbs, owner Bennett. Imported to UK late 1934/early 1935. Eventually owned by Mrs Couper (Garrymhor) who used him in her breeding program DOB 5 MAY 1934 Nerone Of Pommel rock (Ardmor Anthony x Shelia Beg) BORN IN INDIA, breeder Bennett, owner Lynde-Selden (Pommel Rock) Imported to USA, used by Mrs Lynde-Selden in her breeding program DOB 7 JUNE 1935 Umberto (Amanullah (IND) x Shelia Beg) BORN IN INDIA, breeder ("Rajah") A Paino, owner Venita Vardon Oakie (Oakvardon) Imported to USA, used by Mrs Oakie in her breeding program AHT previously documented that Umberto's stated origins as being India could not be correct, IF HIS PARENTS WERE AS STATED IN THE AKC STUD BOOK AND IF AS DETAILED IN AN ON-LINE PEDIGREE DATABASE because those pedigree database stated parents never left English shores. Having researched this with Lyall Payne, and in light of the press cuttings information above that documents Umberto's arrival in the USA on a ship that did in fact come from India, we conclude that Umberto was born in India, and that his true sire is " Amanullah (IND) and NOT the Amanullah (UK). Ttherefore the AKC registartion. is correct, and the details in the on-line pedigree database are incorrect.(we have informed the database owner of the error and provided them with the correct information) The press cutting announcing Umberto's arrival in the USA is dated 12 October 1937 and the narrative states that Mrs Jack Oakie will enter her new arrival (show not stated, but it turned out to be Santa Anna CA show on October 16-17 1937). Noting that Umberto wasn't registered with AKC until January 1939, Mrs Jack Oakie, I suggest, clearly had plans to exhibit Umberto before he was registered with AKC. I don't know AKC show regulations as of 1937-39 and whether it was permissible to exbhibit an unregistered dog. I would have thought not?- - We also just found just another show entry detail where again Umberto is referenced as being an import from India and bred by "Rajah Palno". Hitherto we had assumed Palno was a "Mr" rather than an Indian Noble "Rajah", that is new and helpful information- - We will continue to research this topic but we can now confirm that Umberto was imported from India andwas not of English Afghan hound parentage or origins. We also found a note that said Umberto was born in Poona, India, so we now have several newspaper archives confirming India as the country of origin, the locale where he was born, and further information about his breeder.- - Here's another/similar bit of confusion on another India bred hound -. Nerone Of Pommel Rock (USA), parents = (Ardmor Anthony x Sheila Beg). Nerone was born 1934/05/05 , bred by H G Bennett (a British Army Sergeant Major). Nerone was born in the India, as per AKC stud book info, and not as recorded in the on-line pedigree database. Nerone, exported to Mrs Lynde-Selden (USA - Pommel Rock) and registered in the AKC stud book edition of September 1938. The AKC stud book lists the breeder as "H G Bennett, India". Again, seemingly implying that Nerone was born in India. Again this is incorrect. Coincidentally both Nerone Of Pommel Rock and Umberto have the same dam "Sheila Beg" (Khan Baber x Dakkas Delight - bred in England by Mrs J Stubbs). Noting that Nerone was born in 1934, his father Ardmor Anthony was still siring litters in the UK in 1935, so clearly Nerone must have been bred in the UK also because thats where his father resided. We have ruled out the possibility of the dam (Shelia Beg) being exported in whelp.
Nerone Of Pommelrock was the product of a brother sister mating. Nerone is behind the Pommelrock line in the pedigree of Ali Kyber, a very prolific stud. Ali Khyber is behind Khanhasset Ginger Of Grandeur a very important hound in the Grandeur kennel. The Khanhasset Ginger lines were eventually bred (via Mahdi Of Grandeur) back to the Umberto and Oakvardon lines which are in the pedigree of the BIS Westminster Afghan Hound - Shirkhan Of Grandeur. So, undeniably, Umberto and Nerone made a significant contribution to the development of the breed in the USA. Top Of Page 7. EARLY EXPORTS FROM INDIA (Yes) (Clara Bowing, Larkbeare, UK) Clara Bowring of Larkbeare UK, imported two Afghans she chose whilst visiting India in 1924. These were the cream dog Shahjehan Of Larkbeare (Shamel x Julie) bred in 1922 by Capt Carpentier, and a bitch Jahanara of Larkbeare, breeder and parents unknown. The two Larkbeare imports were bred from but the line expires after 1926. Shahjehan of Larkbeare was exported from the UK to the Elenor Kennels in the USA. Our research indicates that Shahjehan was exhibited at the Golden Gate Kennel Club Show (San Francisco). There appears to be no record of any breeding from Shahjehan and we are still researching his USA show career. (Laurence Peters/Caroline Hall Richmond, Fatima, USA) Laurence Peters, a journalist based in Washington, imported two Afghan hounds from India to the USA around 1932. These were the fawn bitch Jemshepur Fatima (Khan Of Earl Soham x Kushdil Of Earl Soham) born in 1928, bred by A E Hirsth in India. The "Jemshepur" name was dropped and she was known as Fatima and become the property of Miss Caroline Hall Richmond (Fatima Afghan hounds USA) who named her kennel Fatima. The second Peters import was also a bitch Jemshepur Souriya, owned by H M Robertson with no record of any breeding from her. Fatima on the other hand proved to be an important import. Laurence Peters later, also imported two Afghan hounds from Afghanistan (Tazi of Beg Tute/Saki Of Paghman). A daughter of Fatima was bred to a son of Tazi/Saki which produced a litter that included the dog - Fatima's Ma Khmal Khan that was an important early stud for the Grandeur kennels, USA. Top Of Page 8 UK EXPORTS TO SREEBAS KENNELS INDIA One Indian kennel we have some knowledge of is the Sreebas Kennel of Mrs I N Sinha located in Calcutta India, active from the early 1940's through the late 1950's. The Afghans (in centre of photo) are Xema of Sreebas and Ch Xanthic of Sreebas
Zaberdast Of Carloway, bred by Mrs Sheila Devitt - Gilleney (UK & MALTA - Carloway) was exported from the UK to Mrs Sinha in the early 1950's, precise date not known. Tejbul Of Carloway followed Zaberdast to India a short while later. Taj Allia Of Chaman bred by Mrs Molly Sharpe (Chaman) joined Zaberdast and Tejbul in India. Bletchingley Intruder, bred by Mrs Peggy Riley (Bletchingley, UK) was exported from the UK to Mrs Sinha around 1954. So by 1954 Mrs Sinha owned 4 imported UK bred Afghan hounds in her Sreebas Kennels in Calcutta, India. from the Maharani Of Burdiran in Calcutta, India, awarded to her imported Bletchingley Intruder for Best Afghan, Best Sporting and Best Newly imported
(SREEBAS KENNELS INDIA EXPORTS TO UK) As well as importing UK Afghan hounds, Mrs Sinha also exported Afghan hounds to the UK. She exported the following three Afghan hounds to the UK during the early/mid 1950's - Nasira of Sreebas, Anwar Of Sreebas, Paribanu Bin Sreebas From the list above of Indian Sreebas exports to the UK we should note Paribanu Bin Sreebas. This bitch was first owned by Sheila Devitt of Carloway who mated her with the dominant Carloway stud dog Ch Yussef Of Carloway. Paribanu produced a litter of five on 1957/03/30 including the English Champion Mandodari Of Carloway that was owned by Mrs Di Bowdler-Townsend (UK - Moonswift) A littermate of Mandodari, a black bitch - Mumtaz Of Carloway was exported to Jacqueline P Fourniols (de la Goutte d'Or kennel in France) where she produced litters for that kennel as well as for the Swiss kennel of "de Kaeran" owned by Y Petion-Ledin. From here Mumtaz's breeding also extends into Germany.
Paribanu Bin Sreebas ownership transferred from Sheila Devitt (Carloway) to Mr D R Connors (UK) who used the stud services of Mrs Peggy Riley's Bletchingley Hillsman on Paribanu who produced her second litter containing six puppies on 1959/04/05. Two of the puppies carried the Sreebas affix as part of their name and were sold to UK exhibitors.
Top Of Page 9. H H MAHARAJA OF BARIA (INDIA) The Khorrassan (UK) kennels of Miss Eileen Snelling have a special (Royal) connection with India. In the 60's right at the top of her game, Miss Snelling had to disband her kennel of Afghan hounds in order to care for her mother who was in ill health. Several of Miss Snellings Khorrassan Afghan hounds were sent to H H The Maharajah of Baria. We are fortunate to have rare photographs of some of these Afghan hounds, from AHT and the Khorrassan Archives. Ind Ch Khorrassan Sannerdu Of Khorrassan (Left) and Ind Ch Amber Lily Of Khorrassan (Right)
Here is a pedigree of a litter he bred in 1962.
The Maharajah exported Atia to Spain where she produced litter/s and thus proliferated the Khorrassan bloodlines there. A litter sister Azra of Baria was exported to Germany and produced litters there. Interesting to reflect that an Afghan hound bred in Europe (England) gets exported to India, and then descendents of the line are then exported back to Europe (Spain and Germany in this case). This at least shows that the "reach" of Indian bred Afghans was not confined to the UK and USA but also to other parts of the world.
Top Of Page 10. KHORRASSAN (UK) AND INDIA Khorrassan is the kennel of (the late) Ms Eileen Snelling, UK. In 1980 Ms Snelling wrote "Of the 5 Khorrassan Indian Champions, 3 were owned by His Highness The Maharajah Of Baria, whom I had the great pleasure of meeting and discussing our beloved breed. It was a great thrill to receive an invitation to his wedding". The 5 Khorrassan Indian Champions are -
There were a number of other English bred Indian Champions from other kennels, including - Ind Ch Tejbul Of Carloway, Ind Ch Bletchingley Intruder, Ind Ch Bletchingley Kalbikhan Khama. There are probably more, we will add to this list as we uncover them.
Below is a photograph from the Khorrassan archives of Indian Champion Red Tulip Of Khorrassan exported to India in the mid 1950's. There's a bit of a trail of owners story to Tulip. The breeder was Mr S Piggot who as a condition of breeding terms typical of that era (he used Ms Snellings Moonbeam of Khorrassan) he registered Tulip under the Khorrassan affix. Ms Snelling was the first owner, the second owner was someone in India (we don't have Indian owners name). Here's the twist - Ms Snelling informed us that after Red Tulip gained her Indian Championship, she returned to England and became the property of Mrs Beryl Appleton of Anzani Afghan Hounds, located in Sunderland, North East England. Mrs Appleton was quite a fan of the Khorrassan Afghan Hounds and had several Khorrassans over an extended period. Mrs Appleton also owned Ayesha Of Khorrassan (Shariah Of Khorrassan x Adana Of Khorrassan ), a grand daughter of Ch Moonbeam Of Khorrassan (who was the sire of Red Tulip)..
Top Of Page 11. SOME VINTAGE INDIAN KENNEL CLUB CERTIFICATES here's a copy of the IKC Breeders Diploma awarded to Miss Snelling in 1960 in respect of Ind Ch Djinee Of Khorrassan mentioned earlier
INDIRA GHANDI WITH AFGHAN HOUND Stephanie Hunt Crowley kindly made me aware of this photograph. Now all I got to do is research and track down the afghan and its pedigree etc
*****Update 31st January 2014 - Found a reference to Ghandi's Afghan hound -. Indira Ghandi and her boys had three pets, A small mixed breed dog who barked a lot named Reshma, a Siamese cat named (for no particular reason) Zorba The Greek, and a splendid Afghan hound named Kabul, after the Afghanistan capital it came from (Source The Pittsburgh News, November 28, 1971) Steve Tillotson, Afghan Hound Times, May 2012 Top Of Page Related content Rev Herbert Wheeler Bush (By Steve Tillotson November 2013) Afghan hounds in India (By Steve Tillotson May 2012) Nerone of Pommel Rock from India (By Steve Tillotson, Jan 2016) Captain Barff and Zardin (By Steve Tilotson, Lyall Payne, John Bloor, 2014) Clara Bowring Larkbeare Afghan hounds from India (By Steve Tillotson, 2012) Afghan Hound on Shrine in Nepal, India (Our Afghans, May 2002) Early Afghan Hounds Section (By Steve Tillotson 1996 - 2016) GoTo Whats new |
