Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-06-14
Spanish Muleteers.
TRAVELLING THROUGH CLOUD OF SMOKE
A TEAM MANAGED BY A CAUCUS.


Inc harness y rope-strohg ana wei ntted
for It's use lhe mules are generally har-
messed two abreast-thougho once or twice we
had three in the hrst rank-with two poles.
The leaders are directed by postilllon. He
does not mount till they are at the full run.
1t Isapoint OF pride TO run at their side and
to spring up when the mule is in full motion.
The "ohief mate" as called him sat on the
thorough-brace. beneath my seat, which was
properly his. at the side OF the driver. But
he was not there great deal. lie varied his
somewhat cramped attitude by running by the
side OF the carriage and OF the mules. lie
had long whip with which he touched any
one whom he or the driver thought Negligent
The driving, indeed, was conducted IN sort
Of caucus. IN which my admired trlend on
the right, the driver proper, the chief mate,
whose official name did not know and the
postllllon held equal parts-although the
rank Of each was firmly maintained mean
that there was running conversation, all the
way, as to the success aud prospects OF the
Journey and as to the condition and per
iormance Of the mules on our seat we
kept store OF MacAdam stones, with
which from time 10 time the driver mt the
| head or hauneh, as ne chose, OF mule who
needed reminding One driver preferred
stones as hlg as peach, another had little
ones not Digger than nut.
All the stan smoked ali the time they
could spare 70 soon a. We started from
( post house, the driver handed me the ribbons,
ana drove 'or ie" minutes. ms was TO
give nm chance % make ms cigarette. lie
[ hsd inc tobacco an ready ~ one pocket ana
! the paper IN ahp'her. )" heh the cigarette
was made, "ou'u turnIsh my Matchbox,
he would take on ms hat, and with an
ingenuity "hieh nave never seen rlNaiIed
anywhere else' ne would iigh' the cigarette
, "hiIe We were ~ iu!l notion ihe chiet-
mate "ouid theh ciImo up rom MS iair De
low, where ne had been making ms cigarette
ana takt Ilgh' ior IN ihe passengers on
the seat above as' dld l'ke"Ise' ana We were
thus ready Tor the rest OF the stage, having
7 occupied perhaps haf or quarter OF the
time IN preparation. " heh our emu oi tue
team was All wen smoking, the po>ullIon
would jump on the lrader' run bach ana get
ight, run forward ana mount again "hiie
the mules were al Their regular pace Not
but What nave seen posuIIon strike a
match and hgh, cisar under the cover of
hlS hat while ne was m saddle anu IN iulI
notion Indeed "nt delight n th!, charm
lns DAY VA, the ir"lIng thAt at iraSt IN my
life "a" two daily duties perfectly done.
mat oi the postII!ioh ana that q the coach
man.
he amount OF conversation necessary
would 'tlgGer the bellet q taclturn readffs.
DO M remember thht tht mules had sep
arate names, hut We addressed to them a
running hre oi please requests, suggestions.
tNclhmAtion~, tNhnrtahonS, enc"uragemrhts,
warnings and possible adJuratl"n> though
Of thiN Int am net sure beth m AndaiuSinn
ahi, "hdiN enough lh Arabic. My IAN
guaEr that they would understand would
an>"er - 4 Arpt them 70 their work. 10
a' lhr Tuth never "a" creatures Who
needed prpddiug less. ihet Kept on, pressed
hard "n the collar at relentless pace,
eager y be- at the pnsthouse a. We were
To have them. Bur, on the part OF the
caucus. rs called II, Of three, although they
all did thls thing every day q their Ires,
there was tha' sort "i eaeernes' which YOU
see III children gong to circus tor the hrst
time. A 4. on that particular dav, the doors
would he closed earlier than usual as If
We might Ind the bridge down al Jaen or
a. u We were at nrldegroomS gong To be
married Aud TINS was accompanied by
good nature almost ludIcrous- do not re-
member 70 have heard az angry word spoken
al! that day.
There was one occasion almost critical. IN
which VICIOUS mare was brought out as
one Of the leaders. Inc creature refused
To start 50 obstlnatell that the whole team
was once and again ~ confu>ion-one mule
was overthro"n- and confess thought
another horse would have TO be substituted
for her. But the Whole council. which m
Guided n" grooms ana keeper OF The post
house, may be a dozen persons, managed
OF hot temper. lon might have thought
sne wa, trout who would not bite, so quiet
were the, N their treatment OF her. yet 80
determined When she did start the
position ran b, her side mile before the
Wild creature would give him chance TO
get on NJ which he TOOK more quietly
1t helped the carriage along and that was
enough Tor HIM. hen he was ready and
she vas read! he took his place on her