The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-08-09
From HaTper's weekiy.l
Trailing.

One of the most remarkable features
Of uncivilized life is the power savages
show OF tracking men and beasts over
immense distances. Many travellers
have spoken Of this as something almost
miraculous, yet IL is only the result OF
careful observation OF certain we'll known
signs and we have here before US a col.
lection Of very common sense hints on
the subject In countries like ours ev.
cry trace of foot print or wheel track on
roads and paths is soon obliterated or
hopelessly confused; but il is otherwise
IN the wilderness, where neither man nor
beast can conceal his track. In CafFre-
land. when cattle are stolen, if their foot
prints are traced to a village. the head
man is held responsible for them. unless
he can show the same track going out
A walton track in a new country is prac-
tically indellible More especially" :"
say the authors Of Shifts and Expedients
OF Camp Life" lis this the case IL a FIRE
sweeps over the plain Immediately after
or if the wagon passes during or after a
prairie fire. We have known a fellow.
traveller recognize in this manner the
tracks his wagon had made seven years
before. the lines of charred stumps crush.
ed short down remaining TO indicate the
passage of the wheels, though all other
impressions had been obliterated by the
rank annual growth of grass fully twelve
feet high" Sometimes the original coil
being disturbed, a new vegetation will
spring up along the wagon track, and
thus mark out the road for miles.
Even on hard rock mans bare foot
will leave the dust caked together by
perspiration. so that practiced eye will
see il; and even if there is no track. "A
stone will Le disturbed here and there.
the side OF the pebble which has long
lain next the ground being turned up
II il is still damp. the man or beast that
turned il has passed very recently II a
shower Of rain has fallen. the track will
tell whether il was made before during
or after the shower; similar indications
can be obtained from the dew and an
other indication OF the time that has
elapsed since a man passed by Is furnish
ed by the state OF the crushed grass
which will be more or less withered a.
the time is longer or shorter. Other ia.
dications are drawn from the direction
in which the grass lies; this tells how
the wind was blowing at the time the
grass was crushed; and by noting pre-.
vious changes OF the wind. one learns the
time at which each part OF the track was
made
Much, too. can be learned from the
form Of the foot prints. Savages geuer-
ally turn their toes in in walking; white
men turn theirs out. A moccasin print
with toes turned out would indicate that
white man in Indian walking gear had
gone by; and almost every foot has a
print of its own, which enables an ex
perienced tracker TO follow a single track
among a dozen others. Similarly the
character Of the print will tell whether
the man who made il walked freely or
was led by others; whether he was in n
hurry or travelling slowly; whether he
carIi-d burden; and II he were sober
or tipsy. horse track is equally we'll
marked. IL tells when the horse gallop
ed. where he walked, where he stopped
to feed or drink; and a scattering OF
sand and gravel will tell when be was
startled by any strange sight
In all this two things are needed
sharp sight and careful training The
elephant often makes a very curious
track as he walks. If he suspectl danger.
he scents the ground with the tip OF his
trunk, and this makes a we'll marked
Serpentine line in the dust. Elephants
have changed their tactics since rifle pits
were introdu uced. Formerly. when their
chief danger was pitiall, the leader Of
the herd felt the ground inch by inch
and if be detected the covering OF trap,
tore il of and left il open. Now they
rely much more on scent, and in this
way, often from great distance, detect
the hunter lurking near the drinking.
places. lfso. they will sometimes travel
fifty or hundred miles to another stream
or pool.