Animal sale

Hagenbeck states that the British Consul are in the process of purchasing the hybrids 'Brenda' and 'Black Agnes'. He states that he will arrange shipment if Ewart covers costs and liaises with the Consul over prices.

Hagenbeck informs Ewart that the hybrids for the English government left Hamburg in good health, and he expects they will arrive in India in good condition. He states that 'Matopo' (a zebra stallion) is in his possession again (after being returned by a seller) but he has not been able to find a fault with him.

Hagenbeck mentions the zebras he has in exchange for 'Romulus' or the Exmoor hybrid and states that he is surprised to find that some people at the London Zoo consider the Przewalski's horse to be a mule. He states that he has sold 'Matopo' to Arthur Yates, refers to the Kiang pony and Korea stallion which he is trying to sell and writes of his anticipated delivery of East African zebras which he will train to harness.

Hagenbeck writes that he is sorry that Ewart has sold one of his hybrids. He would very much like the other two that are for sale for his St Louis expedition. He assures him that he will credit Ewart as being the first man to breed the hybrids.

Hagenbeck states that he is unable to tell Ewart where the mare that he sent to him was caught. He writes that it will be difficult to find a customer for the Przewalski's stallion but that he will try to find a buyer for Ewart's kiang/horse hybrids.

Sutherland mentions hearing from Arthur Yates about the zebra 'Matopo', whom he has just bought from Dr Hagenbeck. He recommends some French books on Leporidae and recounts a rabbit-hare cross-breeding hoax that occurred in France some decades earlier by a Monsieur Roux. He asks for news of 'Romulus' and hopes to see Ewart at the New Forest Pony Show on the 23rd of April.

Sutherland asks if Ewart would like him to send him some Rockbeare white wild rabbits. He wonders if he should inform another potential buyer that Carl Hagenbeck will be purchasing Ewart's two zebra hybrids. He informs Ewart that the zebra 'Matopo' has died and says that he is trying to find out more information. He enquires whether or not Ewart ever did anything in the way of the wood pigeon cross.

Oliphant writes that they have unfortunately lost one of their Burchell's zebras at Woburn Abbey since Ewart visited them. He asks Ewart to name a price for his Przewalski's mare as the Duke of Bedford may be persuaded to purchase her.