FOOD. 23 



trowel, called a " kurpa," which is used with a scrap- 

 ing motion of the hand, the process being called 

 " cheeling." A considerable quantity of earth is 

 taken up with it, which ought to be knocked off 

 against the hoe ; but as the grass is sold by weight, 

 and the usual quantity a private " grass-cutter " is 

 supposed to bring in daily is 20 seers (40 Ibs. weight), 

 it is not to his advantage to clean it. If horses eat 

 dirty grass for any length of time, the sand and dirt, 

 besides damaging the teeth, is likely to accumulate 

 in the intestines and give rise to what is known as 

 sand colic. When the " grass-cutter " brings in his 

 bundle of grass that he has collected, which he 

 generally does at midday, it should be spread out 

 and cleaned ; sticks and thorns should be picked 

 out, as they are likely to lodge in the horse's throat 

 and choke him, and it should be well beaten 

 with a stick to get rid of the sand and dirt. A good 

 plan is to fasten a net between the wooden frame- 

 work of a " charpoy," or native bedstead, lay the 

 grass on it, and beat it there with a stick, and it is 

 surprising what a quantity of rubbish will fall 

 through. An old lawn tennis net, if the meshes 

 are not too big, answers well for this purpose. Grass- 

 cutters are fond of wetting the grass to make it 

 weigh. If it is brought in fresh, and damped with 



