A History of Agriculture in India v2.c79.s2: Feed and Fodder
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c79.s2
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Feed and Fodder
v2.c79.s2.1
Food and fodder for royal horses was standardized. Abu-l-Fazl states, 'In winter, they give boiled peas or vetch; in summer, grain. The daily allowance includes two *sers* of flour and one and a half *sers* of sugar. In winter, before the horse gets fresh grass, they give it half a *ser* of *ghi*. Two FIG. 41. A Mughal painting showing elephants and camels fighting and men wrestling. c. 1600. (Courtesy: Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
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FIG. 39. ‘Elephant is one of the distinctive animals of India. Indians call it hathi. It is found in the province of Kalpi.’ An illustration to the Babur-nama, 1597. (Courtesy: National Museum, New Delhi)
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FIG. 40. Catching elephants in Terai. Frightened by the sound of drums and pipes, the elephants rush about till they are tired and rest under a tree. Hunters throw ropes round their feet and necks and tie them to trees. Jaipur Artist: Lal, 1750. (Courtesy: Maharaja of Jaipur Museum)
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FIG. 42. Hazaras paying tribute to Babur. It includes sheep, a buffalo and gaini cows. An illustration to the Babur-nama, 1597. (Courtesy: National Museum, New Delhi)
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dams are daily allowed for hay; but hay is not given when fresh grass is available. About three *bighas* of land will yield sufficient fodder for a horse. When instead of sugar the horses get molasses, they stop the *ghi*; and when the season of fresh grass comes, they give no grain for the first three days, but allow afterwards six *sers* of grain and two *sers* of molasses *per diem*. In other Iraqi and Turki stables, they give seven and a half *sers* of grain. During the cool six months of the year, they give the grain boiled, an allowance of one *dam* being given for boiling one *man* of it. The horses also get once a week a quarter *ser* of salt. When *ghi* and fresh grass are given, each horse, provided its price be above thirty-one *muhurs*, gets also one *ser* of sugar; whilst such as are worth from twenty-one to thirty *muhurs* only get half a *ser*. Horses of less value get no sugar at all. Before green grass is given, horses of a value from twenty-one to upwards of one hundred *muhurs* get one *man* and ten *sers* of *ghi*; such as are worth from eleven to twenty *muhurs* thirty *sers*; but horses up to ten *muhurs* get neither *ghi*, brown sugar, nor green oats. Salt is given at the daily rate one-fiftieth of a *dam*, though it is mostly given in a lump. Iraqi and Turki horses which belong to the court are daily allowed two *d.* for grass; but such of them as are in the country only one and a half.’