The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-05-21

Wv H''Nt uc 'iC l'IoW. anu COlSlNltt
of single stick Of square timber
the size of a joist, fastened in TIVE
places with raw-hide rope to keel
IT square to the front, and drawn by
a yoke Of oxen to level the ground
Corn NILS, Hoes, fires md Or.
carts.
The metGte or stone corn mill
used for preparing tOrtUas, are the
same article that was used by the
Indians at the conquest of Mexico
Their hoes are clumsy, rough ma.
chimes, decidedly worse than tho
meanest hoe in old Virginia-and
that is as bad character as | know
how to give them.
Their axes are long and clumsy,
with blades about three inches wide,
and resemble the upper part of a
Ipickaxe or grubbing hoe. 1t looks
remarkable that they should ever
be able to peek tree down with
one. The great superiority of the
American axe is so evident, that
some venturesome persons have
commenced the use of them.
a Mexican cart is the most unique
of all their inventions. 1t has not a
piece of iron in it or about it. 1t is
constructed entirely of wood and
raw-hide. The axle is a rough
hewed log rounded at the ends
The wheels are made of knotty live
oak, two feet and a half through the
hub, and trimmed down to seven
inches in the tread. Two slabs of
the same width are pinned on to the
centre piece, TO give rotundity to
the wheel.
A heavy tongue is morticed into
the axle, and has wooden pin in
serted through the upper end, by
which to fastcn it TO the yoke. The
body is made of wooden poles insert
ed into round saplings eight feet
long, This is used for hauling wood,
&c. When they wish TO haul corn,
corn-stalks are placed across the
wooden poles and dashed tightly to
them, with strips Of raw hide When
wheat or shcl!ed Germ is 20 &c CARR
ed, they line the inside of the stalk
bed with mating made of the nal
miila, Which resembles the material
Of which gunny bags are made.
The oXyoke is piece Of timber
five inches wide and three inches
thick, slightly indented near each
end. This is tied in front of, and
across the horns, with a piece OF
tough raw hide. Another piece fast
ems the yoke tightly to the tongue
Of the cart. A second yoke of cat
tie is usually fastened to the cart.
The driver moves along by the
side of cart, sometimes on foot and
sometimes on an ugly, i'll natured
mustang, with long oX.goad in his
hand. He uses this very freely.
and when he wishes to " file left"
lie pops his goad into the eff OK, who
screws his tail and runs around his
fellow, and changes the direction OF
the cart. They move more briskly
than American oxen This is no
wonder, for they are all taught to
"walk Spanish"
They haul very large loads in
these carts, and travel as fast as
horse teams usually do on a journey
Pleasure RMing.
A Mexican frequently carries his
wife and children in these carts
He then puts raw-hide on the bot
tom, TO keep the children from fall
ing through, and put another over
the top for cover, when in crawlS
the whole family. As soon as "all's
set" lie Kisses at his oxen, as bear
hunter would do when close on Bru-
in, and off starts the whole contri-
vance with full band Of road mu-
sic.
Some ladies in the United States
seem to be fond of travelling in sta
gcs and railroad cars, with squalling
children, to the great annoyance OF
their fellow-passengers. | would
advise such by all means to try a
Mexican cart, for however much a
cross grained brat may scream and
hawl, it would not in the least dis
turb his neighbors, or interfere with
the harsh discord produced by the
outlandish screeching Of Mexican
cart.
'Low me II t0dt y0ur Bar !Skin
The Baltimore Western Continent
tells the following good one, combin.
ing gallantry and greenness -
Some two weeks since, a YOUNG
gentlemen from one of the southern
states came to Washington, to en-.
deavor to obtain an appointment il
one ofthe new regiments about being
raised for Mexico. 1t was his first
trip to the north, and having travel.
led stroight through from Atalanta tc
Washington, without stopping on til,
| road. he had n better onnortunitv n