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measures I would advocate to develop this industry. In consultation with
the District Officers, I was able to ascertain that mule-breeding is not possible
in Bengal, because the prejudices of the people generally are dead against
it. I thought at one time that Darjeeling might be used for mule-breeding,
but the missionaries and other people I have sounded are not in theleast keen.
DONKEY STALLION AT GUNTAK.
51. The Political Officer of Sikkim, under whose charge the donkey
stallion " Charak" is being maintained, reports that during the year under
review 10 mares were covered by the stallion (Appendix XIX) and that
Rs. 199-4-7 were expended to meet the cost of his feed, keep, attendance, &c.,
which will be seen from Appendix XX. If this stallion turns out to be a
foal-getter, many more mares will be brought to him. Mule-breeding in
Sikkim is under a cloud just now, owing to the former stallion being useless.
ARAB PONY STALLION AT BUXAR.
52. Babu Hardhyan Singh, who looks after the District Board pony
stallion " Ruby," reports that during the year 1898-99 the stallion covered
57 mares, against 56 last year. (Appendix XXI). The result of cover-
ings is not known, as many of the mares came from different places and
different districts bordering Shahabad. But he says the stallion is very
much appreciated, and his services are successful as far as is ascertained. The
cost of feed and keep of the stallion during the year under report was
Rs. 200-3-3, against Rs. 273 last year (Appendix XXII).
CATTLE-BREEDING.
53. In Appendix XXIII will be found some information as to the
results of coverings by several bulls supplied by this Department, and by the
Department of Land Records and Agiculture, Bengal. During the year
under report many requisitions for bulls were received, but as few good bulls
could be procured, I have been unable to comply with them fully.
22. Bihari Brahmini bulls (Sitamarhi and Darbhanga), for which
requisitions were made, were procured and supplied to the following persons:—
Collector of Pabna (2); Manager, Tikari Raj (1); Chairman, District
Board, Backergunge (4); Secretary, Howrah Municipality (2); Manager,
Pal Lahara estate (1); Baramba estate (1); Talchur estate (1); Narsingpur estate
(1); Dhenkanal estate (2); Secretary, Cossipore and Chitpur Municipality
(1) ; Chairman, Local Board, North Lakhimpur, Assam (2); Deputy Commis-
sioner, Lohardaga (1); and General Manager, Deoghur (3) Besides, the
Subdivisional Officer of Buxar, and the Manager, Bettiah Raj estate, were
each supplied with a Hissar bull. The reports of these balls have been detailed
in the Appendix XXII.
51. Applications for bulls have also been received from the following
persons :—
Commissioner, Bhagalpur Division (in connection with
agricultural experiments and improvement in Purnea
and Sonthal Parganas
...
...
...
Manager, Kanika estate, Cuttack ... ...
Collector of Chittagong (for Government estates,
Chittagong) ... ... ...
Deputy Collector in charge of Subdivisional office,
Rajmahal (for Government estate Damin-i-Koh) ...
Collector of Balasore ... ... ...
Manager, Khagra ward's estate Purnea ... ...
President, Suri fair ... ... ...
Collector of Bogra (for Jaipur Government estate) ...
Deputy Comissioner, Darjeeling ... ...
Mr. E. Good, Collector of Customs, Chittagong ...
Collector of Dinajpur (for Maldwar ward's estate) ...
Collector of Backergunge (for Dakhin Shabazpur estate)
2 good bulls.
2 Beharis.
2 „
2 Half-bred English.
1 Behari.
1 „
1 „
5 Beharis.
Several.
1 Hissar or Hansi bull.
2 Beharis.
2 Beharis and 2 cows,
and I am trying to supply these demands.
55. The good results obtained by distributing good Behari bulls led me
to hope that they were liked by the people of Lower Bengal, for if these
bulls were not popular, 1 could procure others of medium size only at great