::::::::^ THE TROPICS B::::::::: 



accelerating his pace in the smallest degree. Then, 

 without warning, he would start out on a run which 

 soon left the rest of the pack-train far behind. In 

 fifteen or twenty minutes we would come in sight of 

 him, comfortably resting on his back in the middle of 

 the trail, his legs sprawling in mid-air while he took his 

 brief siesta reposing on our clothing-bags. We soon 

 learned that photographic plates and other breakables 

 must not be intrusted to him. He well knew that his load 

 must be taken off and readjusted before he could rise. 

 This philosophic problem of gaining a momentary rest 

 was solved by two other animals by sitting doion with 

 their loads ! Whenever a low ledg-e of rock bounded 

 the trail they would back up to it, crouch down upon 

 their haunches like dogs and rest the edge of the packs 

 on the ledge, looking most comical as they sat there, 

 gazing about with their huge ears bobbing back and 

 forth. 



As a rule, these strong animals are good steady 

 workers. When one stops and absolutely refuses to 

 budge, the Mexicans immediately unload it, for this is 

 a sure sign that something is wrong with the pack. 

 Nothing will induce the animal to move until his load 

 is made right. 



The most wonderful characteristic of these mules is 

 their ability to survive accidents and falls which would 

 break every bone in the body of an ordinary horse. 

 An animal is sometimes overbalanced by its pack, and 



<i. 263 ^ " 



