Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-19
BOOK .OF. TRAVEL SKETCHES.
NUMBER vi.
The Black Sheep" of the Flock.

BY AITCH.
While journeying through the noun
tains of the far West, our only means of
transportation was train of pack mules,
our own individual property. The path
that marked our route through deep can
yons and narrow passes was seldom wide
enough to admit the passage of wagon,
and often was found SO exceedingly cir
cumscribed as to render it very difficult
for our little mules to retain foothold.
However, these patient and careful
little animals, if left to their own way,
generally managed to retain their footing
wherever it was possible for men to walk.
And such power Of endurance as they
possess-it is truly wonderful. This could
not be estimated simply by the distance
performed by them in single day, and
under a very heavy burden; as it is not
unfrequently far greater task to traverse
distance of eight Or ten miles oyer
rocky spurs and through mountain gorges,
than to walk off on a moderately good
road fifty to sixty miles, without pause or
rest.
The weight of the average pack for an
imals trained to this service Is two hun
dred and fifty pounds, exclusive of the
pannier--two hundred pounds being light
weight, aud three hundred and twenty
considered the maximum. Oars were OF
the Mexican style of pannier, and con-
sisted of two parts, each of very simple
construction. There was, first, the sad
die, made of hard wood and raw-hide,
and very similar to the tree of the old
Buckhara saddle, which became such
favorite with the British Hussars in the
Crimean campaign, only that it was
longer and higher than that tree, and
wider in the rib than the well-known
Mcclellan tree. This shape LEFT straight,
rounded edge along the back, to receive
and hold in place the pack-lap."
This was nothing more than a strip OF
four to five yards of coarse mating, con
siructed like the green Venetian bind,
of thin hickory laths, four feet long and
an inch and quarter wide, held together
by interviewer thongs of raw-hide. When
outsiretched it was simply four yards OF
hickory mating, in which the thongs
that formed the warp were extended
eighteen inches beyond each end, as
means of uniting securely the two ex-
tremities.
When the time for making up the packs
arrives, one Of these mats is thrown
across the back of each donkey, the mid
die of it resting on the ridge of the sad
die, where it is secured by stout thongs
of raw-hide. The two extremities OF the
mat are then raised up and brought
together over the saddle and united by
the straps. Thus is formed on either
side q sort of pocket, like O woman's
apron when gathered up to hold any
article for immediate use.
In these pockets the goods or imple-
ments Of the traveller are packed, being
always secured from falling out at the
sides BY the inevitable and ever-conve-
nient thong. These laps" may be
heightened or shortened at the top, thus
regulating the capacity desired. When
packed with blankets and personal bag
gage, or other articles of moderate
weight, in burden of 200 to 300 pounds,
the load so completely hides the diminu-
tive animal beneath that only whisking
tail and pair of enormous ears can be
seen at either end of the moving mass.
The whole not little resembles young
elephant.
In our train were animals of every
variety of temperament, ard many OF
them we're such as to sorely try the tenn
per not only of the drivers but OF every
member of the company. There were at
least half a dozen, scattered throug b the
whole lot, that had never received any
training whatever, notwithstanding the
assurances of the traders from whom
they we're bought. 1t was one OF the
tricks of the trade.
However, if that had been the extent
of their offending, our drivers could very
soon have applied the remedy OF dis,
cipline. But there were some individual
animals that no amount of training could
effect, in the way Of making them obedi-
ent and serviceable.
There was one such in the second
division Of our party, whose place, on
the march, was away back toward the
rear ALWAYS. This donkey was the worst
animal i ever knew. Not vicious, nor
vet stubborn or balky, but simply way
ward and frisky-in q word, trihing,
abounding in levity.
He was a cunning little rat, and not
so much unlike rat in color, either,
only that he had a blush tinge, which,
together with bis character, caused
Mont, the driver, to christen him Blue
Devil" Bot on account Of the fre.
quency with which be had to settle
;as little imp with q regular storm OF
oaths, in connection with impressive
stripes, in which case that name was
scarcely liquid enough for good, healthy
swearing inat would run of smooth,
Mont Just transposed the name 20 b
dam."
As an evidence Of this animals mis-
chievous disposition, l may mention
hah;t IA had Of stopniun stock still on