SYCES. 145 



Never keep a discontented syce. 



Make certain that the syce can live on his pay, for if 

 he cannot do so, he will assuredly steal his horse's 

 grain. 



Never fine a syce. 



Before the cold weather comes on, supply each syce 

 and grass-cutter with warm clothing and a blanket, so 

 that they may not be induced to take off the horse's 

 rugs at night, to use as bedding for themselves. 



In racing stables, syces are generally given a month's 

 pay for each race their horses win. 



It is the custom to allow each syce a bottle of oil and 

 a pound of country soap, for their respective horses, 

 every month. 



If an owner suspects that his syce steals the horse's 

 gram, he may have it sprinkled, by a sweeper, with water 

 before it is given, for then he will regard it as polluted 

 and will not eat it. 



The old adage about the master's eye making the 

 horse fat, applies particularly well to India. 



A native shoeing-smith usually gives a syce four 

 annas for each time his horse is shod. 



It is usual in large stables to make the steadiest syce 

 headman over the others, and to have him responsible 

 in case anything goes wrong. He is called a jemadar 

 syce, and gets an increase of one or two rupees a month. 



Grass-cutters. When a grass-cutter goes out to cut 

 grass, he should bring back a double supply, say 28 Ibs, so 

 that half the number of these servants may remain 

 present to help the syces. 



Grass-cutters are sometimes expected to provide bed- 



K 



