102 STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



In the first place, I never let any of the house 

 servants interfere with the stable. Many persons, 

 particularly those new to the country, do everything 

 through their head servant, or " bearer " ; but I 

 make him stick to his own work, which is the control 

 of the house and the house servants. I pick out 

 one of the best and sharpest of the " syces," chang- 

 ing him till I get a good man, making him the 

 head or "jemedar syce," and paying him a rupee 

 a month more wages than the rest; and he is re- 

 sponsible for everything connected with the horses, 

 and any small bills I pay to him, and him alone. 

 The wages I pay myself to each man regularly on 

 the seventh of the month, for the month previously. 

 I never lift my hand to a servant, or fine him under 

 any pretext, as the fine will only be made up out 

 of the horse's grain, but, if fault has to be found, 

 I do so in the presence of the head man ; on the 

 second occasion a warning is given, and on the 

 third the offender is dismissed on the spot. I 

 always keep a " syce " and a " grass-cutter " for each 

 horse. It is possible to get a " syce " and two " grass- 

 cutters " to look after two horses, by paying the 

 " syce " a rupee a month more ; but the arrangement 

 is not satisfactory, although many do it. If the 

 " syce " gets ill, which they often do, there is no one 



