The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-08-04
TRAILING,
Harpers

One of the most remarkable features ot
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
it is only the result of careful observation
of certain well-known signs; and we have
here before US a collection of very common
sense hints on the subject. In countries
like ours every trace of foot print or wheel
track on roads and paths is soon obliterated
or hopelessly confused; but it 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 village, the head man
is held responsible for them, unless he can
show the same track going out. A wagon
track in a new country is practically indel-
ible. "More especially" say the authors
of Shifts and E.rpedients Of Camp Life, sis
this the case if fire sweeps over the plain
Immediately after, Or if the wagon passes
during or after 4 prairie fire. We have
known a llow-traveler recognize in this
manner the tracks his wagon had made
seUen gears before, the lines of charred
stumps crushed 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
soil 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 prespira-
ton, SO that practiced eye will see it; and
even if there is no track, stone will be
disturbed here and there, the side of the
pebble which has long lain next the ground
being turned up. If it is still damp, the
man or beast that turned it has passed very
recently. If a shower of rain has fallen,
the track will tell whether it was made
before, during, or after the shower; similar
indications can be obtained from the dew;
and another indication of the time that has
elapsed since man passed by is furnished
will be more or less withered as the time is
longer or shorter. Other indications are
drawn from the direction in which the
grass lies; this tells how the wind was
and by noting previous 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 generally turn
their toes in in walking; white men turn
theirs out. A moccasin print with the toes
turned out would indicate that white man
in Indian walking gear had gone by; and
almost every foot has print of it's own,
which enables an experienced tracker to
follow single track among dozen others.
Similarly the character of the print will
tell whether the man who made it walked
freely or was led by others; whether he
was in hurry or travelling slowly; whether
he carried burden; and if he were sober
or tipsy. A horse track is equally well
marked. 1t tells when the horse galloped,
where he walked, when he stopped to feed
or drink; and scattering of sand and
gravel when he was startled by any strange
sight.
In all this two things are needed-sharp
sight and careful training. The elephant
often makes very curious track as he
walks. If he suspects danger, he scents
the ground with the tip of his trunk, and
this makes well-marked serpentine line
in the dust. Elephants have changed their
tactics since riile-pits were introduced
Formerly, when their chief danger was a
pitfall, the leader of the herd felt the
ground inch by inch; and if he detected
the covering of trap, tore it off and left
it open. Now they rely much more on
scent, and in this way, often from a great
distance, detect the hunter lurking near
the drinking places. If so, they will some
times travel fifty or a hundred miles to
another stream or pool.-Harper's Weekly.
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