Spanish speaking peoples in Utah, oral histories: book 13, numbers 135 through 146

Page 272

INTERVIffi~: Romero Page 13 would set up their camp, all of them would come there, and the shepherds would go out to take care of the flocks, this in the autumn. During the winter and at that time nature or rather the pasture that existed in those times, there was so much pasture that, that I can say with all frankness that the sheep couldn't possibly exhaust it. During the winter when the snows would fall, John Wilkes was very attentive, at that time some cars or trucks, Dodge type, would begin to go out . You may not believe me, but in those deserts, like the one north and south of Rawlins, Wamisera [Wamsutter], to the south of Bitter Creek, to the north of Bitter Creek, you could see piles and piles of grass as if they had been raised there. They used to bring them there for the sheep, they would take them in a train, and they would pile them in these places which was a benediction of God. We had there what we called grainaries [granaries], which were large tanks which the sheep owners would fill with oats. A grainary for example was the size commensurate with the number of sheep and sheep herders at that area. These grainaries also had cotton seed and corn, and we carnperos had to help the shepherds during that time. I had very good luck with my cornpa~ero Telesfor Barela, he was my friend and we traveled together in the most arduous parts, wherever