Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-23
Shepherds Life In California.

NollOIhluh
The life of shephcrd-or sheep -hertler,
in the vernacular-in California is no sine
cure. During the greater part of the year
in fact, at all times except lambiny,'
and when engaged at tho home ranch, at
the mOmentOus epOchs of "shearing" and
"dipping shepherd lives as solitary
life as that of any early Christian hermit
in the wilds Of Sinai or the Nubian desert.
He is relegated to the company of his
sheep. and his dog, if he has one,
for some sheep-owners will not per-
init the use Of dogs. They are
as the days and weeks speed on. Once a
ratiOns around to the various camps may
chat with him for a minute Or two, if he
has time but moro frequently will not see
HIM at all, leaving the GRUB" at the
camp, while the shepherd may DO two or
three miles away with his band. Once in
while, too, the "boss,' or major domo,
may ride round-generally when he is
least expected-tO catch him napping-to
give him orders about changing his feed,
or to look into the condition of the flock,
as the case may be. But, apart from
these casualties, the shepherd. is, So
far as human intercourse is concerned, az
completely alone as if he were in solitary
confinement in the penitentiary. The
nearer the man approaches the brute in
nature, the better he is fitted for this bui
ness and perhaps the best shepherds of
all are Mexicans or native Californians.
The home of q California shepherd is a
cabin, sometimes made of rough boards,
sometimes of redwood "stakes," about 12
feet by 8; supplied, in regions where
wood is plentiful, with a rude stone fire.
place or a small sheet iron cooking stove.
Sometimes merely a tent is provided
and the herder does his cooking
as he can outside. During the sum-
mer this latter class of domiciie is
not unpleasant, that is, if it can he pitched
under the shade of a tree but woe to the
luckless herder who is compelled to camp
in a tent upon the bare California plains
beneath a nearly vertical sun! His cabin
is provided with q small deal table, a stool
or two, some shelves on the wall, aud a
bunk made Of deal boards attached to
one of the walls and il he is in luck or
has "boss' who has little respect for
his help-which the ''bosses' rarely have
Il stove or fireplace. The floor of the cabin
is usually literally .ground-hoor, though
instances of shepherds huts being built
with plank flooring are getting more COM
mon in the case Of recent ercctions. His
cooking utensils consist of fee-pOt,
baking-pan, frying g-pan and goblet his
dishes are usually limited to tin-plate
cup, knife, fork and spoon. The rations of
a shepherd consist of a sack of flour, a bag
of beans, a sack of potatoes, some coffee, tea,
sugar, salt, &c., with either the privilege of
killing sheep when out of meat, or the al
lowance of quarter of mutton killed at the
home ranch, and "packed" around by the
"packer Jas the man who brings around
rations to tho camp is called-Once week.
This is supposed to be the most nigsard
estimate in the way of rations, but We have
known cases where even this poor supply
has been suffered to fall short, through the
niggardliness of the "bosses" or the ne
glect of "packers - and where the poor
herder has been reduced to the single arti-
cles of beans and salt, together, of course,
with the mutton it was always in his power
to supply himself with.