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Show guitar, they sang and read, they played checkers or cards, and even enjoyed boxing matches, providing gloves against those times. Without benefit of radio, television, telephone or mail service, their only communication with non-desert people was the monthly supply time. In case of an emergency important information was taken to them. They seemed to fill their hours well without having to be entertained. And of course, the cooking of meals, the mending of sox, and other routine jobs required some of their time. Accumulating enough water to meet all requirements presented a constant challenge for John K and his herders. Storing good and safe drinking water posed a real problem unless they were camped near a spring. They solved the need by filling large wooden barrels with fresh drinking water, then fastened the barrels to the outside of the commissary wagons and they had good water wherever they camped. CAMP FOOD Meat was the most staple food in camp meals, with fresh lamb or mutton having priority. Slabs of bacon in the rind stayed in good condition for extended lengths of time and were depended upon for the shortening used in their cooking. Surplus raw meat kept best by placing it in a large, tightly-woven seamless cotton sack as a protection from flies and other insects. It was hung high from a hook nailed to the 62 |
