The National tribune., 1901-05-30

with breast end breech straps. They had
curved lugs or hooks on each side on which
the load was hung. The parcels to be car
ried were lashed around with close
twisted rope which was provided with
small loops or ears, leather-covered TO pre-
vent chafing. To load the mule, the cargo
was simultaneously lifted to each side, and
the loops hung over the hooks.
This was quick, but the load did not
stay on if the mule trotted or acted foolish,
which they often did. In other words,
they lashed the load to the saddle while
we lash it to the mule. AS they normally
move at the gait of the cOolie walking. the
system works all right. They also had n
number of carts with wooden aXlcs and
sclid wooden wheels, which | noticed We're
abandoned all along the road with broken
aXles. As they were such numbering.
self-evident failure, | will not dwell upon
them. In September they got a large
number of carts from India. All steel
built, with lattice bottoms and sides. pat
cnt hubs, wood fellies and Spoles. They
had pole and were drawn by two pack
mules, the pole being fitted with a swivel
ed crOSS-piece at its end. Each end of
this crOSS-pece rested on the iron pack
saddle where it was engaged 10y a ring, the
mule brides were connected by halter
shank.
These carts were exceedingly strong
and well constructed. and larger than the
Russians, hut the method of attaching the
draft animal did not permit of the full
strength of the beast being utilized. There
was also considerable play TO the saddle,
which caused sore backs. But they loaded
them very lightly. They took excellent
care of their stock; every animal was
thoroughly grOomed daily and blankcted
at night They not only picketed with a
heavy iron pin by the halter shank, bat
had a heel rope or chain attached by a
l., Sn tTAp
mOored fore and aft like n ship i'll n
stream. They said that it was impossible
to picket them any other way because of
their fighting prOpensitiCS, but as they also
said they could not drive them in the same
manner as our pack-mules, and then ad-
mittcd they had not attempted to do either
one believe that their mules would stand
to a picket line like ours if given a show.
The French, Italians and Austrians
had no transport except what they picked
up in the country.
GERMAN MILITARY BAGGAGE WAGONS.
The Germans were in much the same
fix, but late in the season got in a large
number of their military baggage wagons.
These wagons were quite narrow at the
bottom and fiared out considerably at the
sides. The axles were of steel
of rectangular section and had no
sand-bars, or false holsters: the wheels
were of wood with patent hubs, the
Spokes placed very far apart, making
too weak wheel for a rough road. The
absence of Sand-bars, together with their
very narrow bottoms, threw the load on
the center of the aXles too much. causing
many to buckle throwing wheels out of
line and consequently increasing the draft
on the team. The brake power was trans
mitted by n crank and rod fitted with
worm gear. The harness was of fair
leather and breast straps were used in
stead of collars and hames. The man on
the box drove the wheel team only; the
lead team was controlled by a driver
mounted on the near horse. This wagon
does not compare with our escort wagons,
was not as capaciOuS, was badly shaped,
driving required two teamsters instead of
one.
NATIVE CARTS.
"All nations utilized the native carts for
transport purposes. These were of two
kinds, the Pekin cart, used by the Chinese
for passenger purposes, and the huge, lum-
bering freight cart The Pekin cart con
sisted of a heavy pair of shafts, mounted
on an extremely heavy pair Of wooden
wheels with huge hubs, and a strong
hardwood axle. Between the shafts
was a light wooden platform; in
some cases it is Of woven rattan;
this was surmounted by a lattice-work
canopy covered with cloth and with sun
shade, which extended over the cart-mule.
1t was heavy, ungainly vehicle and ex-
trcmely top-heavy. The freight cart was
of the same style but heavier, and had
solid wood bottom and no top. In addi-
tion to the shaft animal were three and
sometimes four ponies or mules harneSsed
abreast, and with very long rope traces.
These carried really enormous loads, and