, 1877-08-10
Savage Methods of Following a Track,

Chambers Journal contains a review
of new book upon "The Shifts and Ex-
pedients Of Camp Life" which gives the
following interesting account of the
methods employed in savage countries to
follow the tracks of men or beasts
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 mi
raculoua, yet it is only the result of care
ful observation of certain well-known
signs and we have here before US col
lection of very Common-sense hints on
the subject In countries like ours every
trace of footprint or wheel-track on roads
and paths is soon obliterated or hopeless
ly confused; but it is otherwise in the
wilderness, where neither man nor beast
can conceal his track. In Kaffirland,
when cattle are stolen, if their foot prints
are traced to a village, the headman is
held responsible for them, unless he can
show the same track going out. A wagon
track in new country is practically in
delible. "More especially" says our au-
thor, sis this the case if fire sweeps
over the plain Immediately after, or if
the wagon passes during or after prairie
fire. We have known fellow traveller
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 impres.
sions had been obliterated by the rank
annual growth of grass fully twelve feet
high" Sometimes the original soil be-
ing disturbed, 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 a
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 re-
Gently. II shower of rain has fallen,
the track will tell whether it was made
before, during, or after the shower; SINH
lar indications can be obtained from the
dew; and another indication of the time
that has elapsed since man passed by is
furnished by the crushed grass, which
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 blowing at the time
the grass was crushed; 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 footprints. Savages
generally turn their toes in, in walking
white men turn theirs out. A moccasin
print with the toes turned out would in.
dicate that white man in Indian walk
ing-gear had gone by; and almost every
foot has print of its own, which enables
an experienced tracker to follow single
track amongst dozen others. Similarly
the character of the print will tell wbeth-
er the man who made it walked freely or
was led by others; whether he was in a
hurry or travelling slowly; whether he
carried burden, and if he were sober or
tipsy. A horse-track is equally we'll
marked. 1t tells when the horse galloped,
where he walked, when he stopped to
feed or drink and a scattering of sand
and gravel when he was startled by any
strange sight. In all this two things are
needed-sharp sight and careful train
ing. The elephant often makes a very
curious track as he walks; if he suspects
danger, he scents the ground with the tip
of his trunk, and this makes we'll
marked serpentine line in the dust. Ele-
plants have changed their tactics since
rife-pits were introduced Formerly,
when their chief danger was 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 great distance,
detect the hunter lurking near their
drinking places. If so, they will some
times travel fifty or hundred miles to
another stream or pool.