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Show ' l ·: ~ , '. ., I .... ~· • 'f l l J ' r,' •. . ~ i ~ ;- ~ ~~.· '-'· ! ·' . ' •· I ', I 20 NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. tole~able ; and if there is any man who works his passage, and at the same time pays fo1~ it-whether he pays money or not-it is the driver of an .ox team on the plains. Ox teams should always be accompanied by a .proper number of saddle horses or mules; they are indispensable in the herding of stock, in going on in advance of the train, to select camping grounds,, and a great variety of other duties incident to the journey ; besides the relief afforded to women, children, and others, who delight in a change, from the rnonotony of the wagon to that of horseback riding. From four to six yoke of good oxen make a sufficient team for a wagon, though eight and ten are often used. Cows are sometimes brought under the yoke, and many of them work very well; but as no one would think of making up their entire team of cows, we do not speak of them as a proper animal for that purpose. Wheel oxen, or those worked upon the tongue of the wagon, should be shod; particularly if heavy animals; · not so much that they require to be sharply corked, as it is th~~c, in holding back down hills and declivities of J ' .sharp gra~E?, and rocky, their feet becom~ tender, worn out, and ott'en lamed. Decidedly the most agreeable team for the trip is one of good horses. Mules are quite as serviceable .. and endure the journey equally well, ' often better; but they are more headstrong, and not as pleasant to' manage as horses. But whether horses or mules, let them be fine .,.., . ~; l : ~ ,;,• .. [· ·~ .. ~ ••' ' ,. .'·~ r .. :~ . •' li. ~· ., ' ·.!... ' '" ., '· ·"· ..... ·' ,,. .. .. ;. • · ' .. , l - .': " (, ·' : "' ·. ,. • I ' NATIONAL WAGON ROAD GUIDE. 21 large animals. One of the greatest mistakes made by the emigrant is, when he procures small animals to put before his wagon. It is not so much the speed of the animal that is required, as its power. It is the load that wears down the team, more even than the quality or scarcity of their food ; for there is always, except in unusual seasons, an abundance of feed, if the e~igrant only knows where to find it. Large, powerful animals, will take your load steadily up the lung, steep mountain sides, or through the heavy sands, with comparative ease, whilst. ponies, or small animals, would wilt under their own efforts, for want of weight in themselves, to throw power into the collar. On this account large horses or mules, as draft animals, endure the journey the best. They feed and fill themselves on the grasses of the plains quite as freely and speedily as smaller ones, and endure extra or forced drives before a heavy load, much better. The strongest argument, h~wev~r, in favor of large animals is, their value on reaching California; the difference being nearly or quite one hundred per cent. California is full of small and medium sized native horses, that are good for their inches, but are not saleable at half the price of large English horses. Ther.e should be six animals, nearly of equal size, to each wag- ' on ; four to be used for harness, and two for the saddle but to tuke their turn in harness if required. Every' heavy draft horse or mule should be well shod immediately previous to starting. \ .' " ~ \ |