GROOMING IN SINDH. 229 



the followers, which are scantily fed and much 

 overloaded. The Meer's horses consume a great 

 deal of grain, or at least have the credit of do- 

 ing so, though, as every horsekeeper has a 

 yaboo of his own, I suspect that a portion of 

 the horse's feed falls to the yahoo's share. The 

 evening feed is six seers, or about three-quarters 

 of a peck of j'ow, or barley, but occasionally 

 biissee or maize ; and in tlie morning, after water- 

 ing, each horse gets his niharee, or breakfast, 

 consisting of one pound of flour, one pound of 

 goor, or coarse sugar, and the like quantity of 

 ghee, clarified butter. This is made up into 

 balls, and when accustomed to the diet, after a 

 few days' use, horses become very fond of the 

 mixture, which fattens them prodigiously. After 

 the niharee the bridles are put on, and the 

 horses stand for an hour or two before grass is 

 given to them. When horses are not required 

 for work, they never get walking exercise in 

 Sindh ; however, they seem to digest their food 

 well, and their legs never swell at their pickets. 

 Gripes and worms seem to be the most preva- 

 lent diseases amongst them. For the former 

 a large dose of melted ghee is administered; 

 for the latter a small dose of mercury, which 



