transportation. If a stiffer receptacle is wanted for
miscellaneous loose small articles, you can insert a soap-box
inside the canvas. It cannot be denied that the rawhide
will stand rougher usage.

Probably the point now of greatest importance is
that of saddle-padding. A sore back is the easiest
thing in the world to induce,--three hours' chafing
will turn the trick,--and once it is done you are in
trouble for a month. No precautions or pains are too
great to take in assuring your pack-animals against
this. On a pinch you will give up cheerfully part
of your bedding to the cause. However, two good-
quality woolen blankets properly and smoothly
folded, a pad made of two ordinary collar-pads sewed
parallel by means of canvas strips in such a manner
as to lie along both sides of the backbone, a well-fitted
saddle, and care in packing will nearly always suffice.
I have gone months without having to doctor a single
abrasion.

You will furthermore want a pack-cinch and a
pack-rope for each horse. The former are of canvas
or webbing provided with a ring at one end and a
big bolted wooden hook at the other. The latter
should be half-inch lines of good quality. Thirty-three
feet is enough for packing only; but we usually
bought them forty feet long, so they could be used
also as picket-ropes. Do not fail to include several
extra. They are always fraying out, getting broken,