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present in very large numbers, and were of good quality. A large number of the latter
were bought by dealers for the Calcutta market.
93. The water-supply was excellent, and although there had been no rain for some
time, water was ample; chain pumps were used in the wells, and thus the water was free
from the dirt which impregnated it in former years.
94. I would reoommend that the sum of Rs. 250 be again granted for the cattle show
to be held next year at Sonepur. It is only by such shows and the bestowal of prizes that
we may hope to inculcate sound ideas of improvement in cattle-breeding into the people's
mind, and encourage a feeling of pride in the possession of fine cattle.
95. Naturally the prices of cattle varied considerably. A good pair of bullooks could
not be obtained for less than Rs. 160. The average price of an ordinary cart pair was
Rs. 110. Cows varied from Rs. 40 to Rs. 95, according to the quantity of milk they gave.
Common plough-bullooks realized from Rs. 15 to Rs. 40. Plough cattle suitable for heavy,
deep ploughing were valued at Rs. 100 each.
96. All these cattle are brought from the surrounding districts of Muzaffarpur,
Champaran, Arrah, Saran, and Patna.
97. The four breeds represented were the Bihari, Bachour, Sitamarhi, and the Patna or
cross breed—descendants from the English bull imported or obtained by Mr. Taylor in 1857.
98. The reason of this year's fair being so large is, I think, due to the fact that the
last two have been prosperous years for indigo-planters. There has been a larger collection
of animals, and a larger gathering of people than for several former years.
Kalimpong Fair.
99. l arrived at Kalimpong on the 25th November
1895 on inspection duty in connection with the mêla.
100. While there, I received a special order from the Assistant Adjutant-General, Fort
William, to help Major Ryland of the Commissariat Department in the purchase of mules
for Government.
101. 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 mêla ground, and returned in the morn-
ing to be inspected.
102. The Inspector-General's (Civil Veterinary Department) remarks, "that the Kalim-
pong mêla, 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.
103. In a letter, dated 28th October 1895, less than a month before the fair, the Com-
missary-General for Transport informed the Honorary Secretary of the Kalimpong mêla that
as a large number of animals had been returned by the Chitral Field Foroe,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.
104. The Honorary Secretary addressed a letter of remonstrance to the Commissary-
General of 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
that 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.
105. 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. Fortunately at the last moment sanction was grant-
ed for the purchase of as many mules of a suitable size and age as were to be obtained.
106. 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
340 mules have been purchased at an average cost of Rs. 130.
107. 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, with indifferent and scanty food, and who are in hard con-
dition from undergoing long and difficult journeys up and down hills, over difficult paths.
The animals, as can well be imagined, are not fattened up for sale ; and yet without an
ounce of fat on their ribs, the average girth of a mule 12 hands 2 1/2 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 remarkable soundness of their limbs.
108. Here, then, we have a market where we can find a large and steadily increasing
number of mules of good hardy constitution for a very reasonable average price; and if