GRASS-CUTTERS 109 



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

 at night to use as bedding for themselves. 



In Indian 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 

 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 supply, say 28 lbs. 

 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 



