GRASS-CUTTERS. 109 



I may remark that, in racing stables, syces are gene- 

 rally 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 

 grain, he may have it sprinkled, by a sweeper, with 

 water before it is given ; for then the syce 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 suppl} 7 , 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 

 bedding for the horses. I would advise that, instead 

 of this being done, the owner should allow a rupee a 

 month per horse for straw, requiring in return that the 

 grass-cutter should assist in grooming. 



When marching horses by road, each grass-cutter 

 should accompany his horse, and should carry a feed ' 

 or two of corn, four or five pounds of grass, a brush and 

 currycomb, a hoof-picker, a rubber, picketing ropes, and 



