(12)
124. Outside the enclosure and round about the fair it was estimated that there were
about 15,000 cattle and 1,000 buffaloes.
125. The horses collected were a thoroughly useless, weedy lot of creatures, and were
probably the refuse from the up-country fairs.
126. The ponies were quite as ill-shapen as the horses, and the large majority of them
were young and weedy tattoos.
127. They Were all free from glanders.
128. The cattle were of a good, useful stamp, though small in size, and are largely
purchased by dealers from Lower Bengal for cart work, and are generally of the class usually
seen in the streets of Calcutta. They are capable of much endurance, and for their size draw
very heavy loads.
129. On the 11th cattle and ponies were judged for prizes. The number of entries
was much larger than at the previous year, which was very encouraging, and this only
proves that improvement of the kind can only be brought in gradually.
130. Some of the pairs exhibited were really fine cattle, and the three bulls collected
only showed what could be done if big land-owners would retain the better bull-calves and
rear them up for the benefit of the surrounding district. Instead of having classes for
animals bred in the district and " those bred outside," it may be suggested that to have one
set of prizes for all comers would save a considerable amount of confusion, and the exhibitors
would be equally pleased.
131. As has already been mentioned, the horses were a very wretched lot, and those
exhibited were a poor class. Nevertheless they were a great improvement on those competing
in the previous year, and this gives encouragement for the continuance of this agricultural
show.
132. The four Entire horses exhibited were leggy, squalling beasts, which ought to have
been emasculated, and not allowed to cover mares in the district.
133. The system of enclosures which has been instituted at this fair might be imitated
at other fairs with much advantage.
Sitamarhi mêla .
134. I visited the Sitamarhi mêla on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th March for the purpose
of inspecting the cattle present, and to judge at the cattle
show.
135. Although the Sitamarhi mêla has been renowned for its large collection of cattle
for very many years, it was not until this year that an agricultural show has been instituted.
The Subdivisional Officer, Mr. Russell, c.s., suggested that as Sitamarhi and the neighbour-
hood was renowned for its cattle, an agricultural show would no doubt add to the attractions
of the mêla. I was enabled to give him 6ome hints with reference to the most suitable prizes,
and the construction of the show ring, and with this slight help Mr. Russell carried through
his idea most successfully, especially considering that this was a first attempt, at which officers
usually have to overcome stubborn conservative notions.
136. There were only about 4,000 head of cattle on the 22nd March, but by the
24th the number could not have been much less than 150,000. This mêla is a well-known
cattle market to which planters and others come to buy good plough and cart bullocks. The
better class of cart bullocks used in Lower Bengal are also obtained at this fair.
137. It will therefore be understood that the institution of a cattle show should in
time become very popular among people who breed good cattle, and it is only hoped
that the good work commenced by Mr. Russell will be carried on equally successfully
by the Committee to whom, I believe, he has handed over the future management.
138. Government in a letter, No. 1367, dated 16th March 1896, from the Revenue
Department, sanctioned the contribution of Rs. 200 for the purpose of bestowing prizes on
the best cattle. To this sum the District Board made a further contribution, by means of
subscriptions, of Rs. 120, raising the total amount for prizes to the respectable sum of Rs. 320.
139. On the afternoon of the 24th March the judging commenced. The Committee
was composed of—
Mr. H. E. Crowdy, of the Belsand Indigo Concern,
Mr. E. H. Stevens, of the Runi Saidpur Indigo Concern, and myself.
140. The enclosure was strongly built of bamboos and answered admirably, and might
be adopted at other cattle fairs with advantage.
141. Considering that this was the first show of the kind held during the Sitamarhi
mêla, the large number of entries is a matter for congratulation.
142. One remarkable feature was a drawing competition, in which a pair of bullocks
was required to draw a laden cart of about 50 maunds. Several very fine pairs entered, and
the majority of them would have been quite suitable to the requirements of a heavy
battery.
143. A meeting of the Committee of Management was held on the 24th March, at
which were present several influential zamindars. I explained to the meeting the object
of these shows, and recommended that they should introduce some good up-country
bulls for the purposes of crossing with their present good cattle, and I suggested that some of
the Brahmini bulls, which overcrowded many of the villages in the North-West Provinces,
might be transferred to Bengal with advantage. The Committee decided to purchase two
Hissar bulls, and to consider the advisability of employing a Veterinary Assistant to
instruct the cattle-owners in the better methods of treating their animals and preventing
the spread of contagious diseases.