The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-01
NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Dickens Tale of Two Cites. Peterson fullon'
Wild Southern Scenes.
The Great Trbulation. Cumming
By Laws OF the Corinthian Lodge Of Masons.
me Percy Family Scotland and England)
Lie OF Thomas Beckett.
yuller's Sermons.
Chaniicleer
Bouyier's Law Dictionary. 2yols
Ada Leigh or The Love Test
Ia PAX de yillafranca par lie Chevalier Debraux.
Tur pHAIRrE TRAVELLER: A HANDBOOK FOR OVER
LAND EXPEDITIONS; with Maps, Itineraries, &C.
By Randolph B. Marcy, Captain United States
Army. Harper Il Brothers.
In this small volume find concentrated the results OF
quarter Of century's experience in frontier hfe
nj once most practical and the most entertaining hand
book of travel that We have met with. Its facts, cleaned
rom close observation Of the difficulties, peris and re-
sources Of the regions raversed by the great overland
youtes are indispensable for the safe guidance OF those
who venture upon them. Without some previous &C
quantance with them the traveller and inexperienced ex
plcrer will find themselves like ship without rudder
or like mariner without his compass. Whilst snch per-
sons will starve and die in the wilderness, the man for
tiled with the knowledge contained in this little volume
win not only able subss where his regular supplies
fail him. but force his way through all the dangers and
obstacles that may beset him.
Half the failures and disasters which attend expeditions
across the Plains be traced less the inherent diff
enes Of the routes themselves than to the ignorance
hibited the preparations made for them. Emgrants
the habit Of eneumberng themselves with much
that useless for the road whilst they neglect to take
with them things that of positive necessity In their
transport outfits they just regardless Of the precau
mons that have be observed in regions in which the
changes OF temperature violent and sudden and in
which the constitution of wood and metal like the cons
ha
previous experience To oresee and provide against such
hndrances is of course impossible unless the emgrant
has the advantage of the advice Of experienced
frontiersman trapper. Such hints he may obtain
from these, however, may not be always suited to the
particular regions which he has to traverse and
over, they cannot always be called TO mind when the
occasion for their use presents itself.
has been Captain GaScy's "s.: :ci 10 provide in ths
.anua against all the emergencies that may arise in
journey the Plains He not only gives 10 the emf
grant the fullest directions to the in which he
shall prepare his OUTFIT thus saving him from the risks
and accidents that would otherwise undoubtedly bef him.
but he teaches him the nature and importance Of those in
dgenous vegetable productions which will help to sustain
lie when his provisions fall short Thus by the careful
study of these two hundred and fifty pages the in
experienced traveller will find himself in comparative
security and comfort places where those who have
elected avail themselves Of Captain Marcy's counsels
viii sarve and perish by the way. Having said enough
10 Indicate general character Of the work, shall
now make few to show the close condensation
and value Of its facts.
As we have stated great inconvenience is frequently
caused TO emgants by naenton to the preliminary pre-
cautions observed the arrangements for their jour-
rey One Of the most important of these s the construc
son Of their wagons. On this subject Captain Marcy
says
Wagons should be Of the simplest possible construction
strong, light and made Of well seasoned timber, espe
arid region over which they have to pass is so exceedingly
dry during the summer months that unless the wood
work thoroughly seasoned, they will require constant
repairs 10 prevent them from falling to pieces
Wheels made OF the -bos arc, Usage orangewood,
the best for the Plains they shrink but little, and
seldom want repairing. Az however, this wood not
easily procured in the Northern states white
a very good purpose if well seasoned
Spring wagons made in Concord, New Hampshire are
used transport passengers and the mails upon Of
the routes the Plans, and they SAID, By those
who have used them to be much superior to any others
They made Of the close grained oak that grows in
high northern latitude, and well seasoned
The pole Of the wagon should have joint where II en-
ers the hounds TO prevent the weight from coming upon
and breaking the hounds in passing short and abrupt
holes in the road
The perch or coupling pole should be shifting or move
able as the Of the loss of wheel, axle,
other accident rendering il necessary to abandon the
gon temporary may be constructed out of the
naming portion The tires should be examined just before
commencing the journey, and, If not perfectly snug,
reset
One Of the chief causes of accidents carriages upon
the Plains arises from the coming of from the
bolts that the running gearing To prevent
this the ends Of all the should riseted is sci
dom necessary TO take them off and when this is required
the ends Of the bolts may easily be filed away.
Wagons with six mules should never, long journey
over the prairies, be loaded with over two thousand
pounds unless gram transported when an additional
thousand pounds may be taken provided fed out daily
TO the team When grass constitutes the only forage two
thousand pounds deemed a sufficient load. regard
government wagons unnecessarily heavy for Six
mules There is sufficient material in them TO sustain
burden Of four thousand pounds, but they seldom
loaded with than half that weight Every wager
should be furnished with substantial bows and double
ouaburg TO protect It's contents from the sun
weather.
In regard to the animals which is most udcious TO EN-
ploy long journey (say OF fifteen hundred or tw
thousand mies) a rough sandy or muddy road
Captain Marcy of opinion that the preference should
given to
Cows, he adds, will be found very useful upon Ion
journeys when the of travel is sow they furns
milk and in emergencies they may be worked in wagons
once small COW y0ked beside large OK ant
driven about six hundred miles attached 70 loaded wa
gon, and she performed her part equally well with thu
OK 1t has been by no means an unusual thing for emf
grant travellers TO work cows in their teams.
The inhabitants of Pembna, on Red river, work
single OK harnessed in shafts like horse and they trans
port thousand pounds in rude cart made entirely o.
wood, without particle OF iron. One man drives and
takes the entire charge of eight or ten Of these teams upon
method Of transportation
Amongst the various interesting anecdotes which are
TO be found scattered through Captain Marcys pages the
following
OF the attachment that mule will form for horse
will cite an instance from my observation which
struck me at the time as being Of the most rearka
BILE and touching evidences Of devotion that have ever
known among the brute creation
On leaving Fort Leavenworth with army for Utah In
1857 one Of the officers rode small mule whose Wind
and gentle disposition caused him become a fayo
rite among the soldiers, and they named him Billy AZ
hi ND fyuara ftap
march, the mule In the of few days evmced
growing attachment for that rode The senti
men however, not recprocated on her part
minated as much by the position OF her ears
and the free exercise Of her feet and teeth whenever B
within her reach but these signal marks Of dspea
of discouragng rather seemed to increase hi
devotion, and whenever at liberty he invariably sought
get near her, and appeared much distressed when nc
permitted TO follow her.
On leaving Camp Scott for New Mexico Billy was anon
the number Of mules selected for the expedition Durin
the march was in the habit when starting out fror