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Show • lfS C -II A P T E R II. DIRECTIONS FOR FORMING A CAMP. These directions are given on the supposition that you have organized properly, and that every mQmher of the company is '\Villing to submit to the orders of the Captain. Camps are usually enclosed by a "caral," or enclosure, formed by driving the wagons in an eliptical or circular form. It requires a little practice to make one at the commencement of the journey. By referring to the diagrams, Fig. 1, it will be seen that before you arrive at the spot selected for a camp, the wagon in the middle of the line strikes out to one side of the road, and is followed by all behind. By driving a little faster, the middle wagon soon gets abreast of the head of the line, thus forming two parallel lines; tifty yards from your camp ground, one of the wagons will be driven ahead, and reined up square across the road, while the wagons following, divide their lines on either side, and take their places as indicated in Fig. 2. You will see from the second diagram, that in case of an attack .by Indians, you can for1n a fort or barricade in five minutes, that no force of theirs could assault successfully. Cooking operations are generally carried on outside of the enclosures. Frequently you may }lave to drive your teams and loose stock into the caral, to save them from the Indians, who are ever on the lookout for plunder. From the moment you leave the frontier until you reach the Sacramento, you need untiring vigilance. The cattle are usually turned out so~n to feed, whenever you stop to camp, where they are guarded by a company of "herds," detailed every day for the purpose. A~ter feeding, if near night, they are driven into the enclosure, there to remain until ; ........ ~ ...... 17 DIAGRAM OF CAMP. FJG. 1. ,f ....... , .' .. •• • I' • --• ''. .. . .. ', , .. ,,. ....... ...... • FIG, 2. |