56
India. In my review of last year's Fair, I stated that I would recommend the
discontinuance of prizes from Imperial funds ; this was done this year and
it certainly had no deleterious effect on the Fair.
354. No reliance can be placed on actual figures quoted as the number of
animals attending. On this point, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary De-
partment, Bengal, states:—
"The number steadily increased until the 4th November when it was estimated that there wore 4,596
horses and ponies present. These figures I do not consider quite reliable as there is no systematic arrangement
of enclosures where the animals are admitted, and it is quite impossible without such an arrangement, to obtain
anything like reliable statistics and other valuable information. In course of time, a similar arrangement to
that carried out at Bhagulpore in Shahabad may be arranged."
355. More remounts were obtained for Native Cavalry this year than last.
The 2nd Bengal Lancers purchased 13 at an average of Rs. 281, and the 3rd
Bengal Cavalry bought 9 at an average of Rs. 290 ; this makes a total of 22
bought for Native Cavalry against 11 last year.
356. No Army Remount Agent appears to have visited the Fair this year,
and I feel pleased to think that he did not, as it will prove much to the advan-
tage of horse breeding if this Department avoids all dealers' fairs.
357. Last year a case of glanders occurred and owing to the fact that the
Glanders and Farcy Act (Act XX of 1879), did not extend to Sonepore, no action
could be taken in the matter; this year the contagious disease (Animals) Act
VIII of 1880, Bengal, was extended to the Fair. The Superintendent, Civil
Veterinary Department, considers that this Act would have met all requirements,
but I am glad to say that it was not found necessary to put its provisions into
force, as no glanders was found amongst the horses attending.
BENGAL.
Kalimpong Mule
Fair.
358. In my review of this Mule Fair last year, I stated that it was yearly
becoming more popular, and this year's Fair will undoubtedly bear out this
statement.
359. I feel that the supply of mules for transport purposes is such a very
important matter at the present time, that I give, almost in extenso, an interest-
ing report received from Veterinary Captain Gunn.
"As nearly as could be gathered, the number of mules which attended the fair was 236; but it was a
difficult matter to calculate, as they arrived in batches and were picketted at a distance of two and three miles
away from the mela ground, and returned in the morning to be inspected.
"The Inspector-General's (Civil Veterinary Department) remarks " that the Kalimpong mela, if properly
nursed, promises to be one of the best mule markets in India" are proving undoubtedly correct, and if the
Military Department will only give sufficient encouragement to the Tibetans, there should be no reason why a
large supply of good mules should not be secured from this source. A mistake was very nearly being made this
year; and had the Transport Department kept to their first decision, the results would probably have been
deplorable.
"In a letter dated 28th October 1895, less than a month before the fair, the Commissary General for
Transport informed the Honorary Secretary of the Kalimpong mela that, as a large number of animals had been
returned by the Chitral Field Force, no mules would be required this year. This was a matter of extreme
moment to the Committee of the Fair, as they had widely advertised in Tibet and elsewhere by printed notices
that a large number of mules would be bought by Government if they answered the requirements. Moreover,
the animals had been brought from great distances for the purpose of sale at this fair, so that the Committee,
on receipt of the Commissary General's letter, were placed in a dilemma, as the traders would have undoubtedly
accused them of a distinct breach of faith, and not without reason, as they had been led to understand that if good
mules were collected at this fair, a Government officer would be deputed to purchase.
"The Honorary Secretary addressed a letter of remonstrance to the Commissary-General for Bengal who,
in a letter dated 9th November, said that the necessity for the purchase of some mules at the fair was strongly
represented to the Commissary-General-in-Chief ; but in consequence of a large number of mules being available
on the close of the Chitral Operations, it had been decided to purchase no more at present."
"The Committee then wrote to Mr. Greer, the Deputy Commissioner of Darjeeling, who addressed a strong
protest to the Brigadier-General Commanding the Presidency District in which he pointed out the policy which
had been followed by the Government in fostering the mule trade in Kalimpong."
"It will be remembered that a little over three years ago there were no mules of the quality required by
Government purchasable here; but by the future promise of purchase and the stimulus in the form of Rs. 150
in prizes granted by the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, the Transport Department has been,
during the past two years, able to purchase a considerable number of good, hardy, thoroughly sound mules, and
this year 175 mules have been purchased at an average cost of lis. 122.
"This alone should prove to Government the value of this fair as a market for mules. Here are to be had
well set young mules capable of enduring the extreme exposure of the cold altitudes of the Himalayas, indifferent
and scanty food, and of undergoing long and difficult journeys up and down hills, over difficult paths, and are
therefore in hard condition. The animals, as can well be imagined, are not fattened up for sale ; and yet with-
out an ounce of fat on their ribs, the average girth of a mule 12 hands 2½ inches high was 60 inches. There
were several of 63 and 64, and one actually measured 69 inches. I was also particularly struck with the remark-
able soundness of their limbs."