CHAPTER IV. 



INSTRUCTION IN THE SERVICE OF A PACK TRAIN. 



1. SUMMARY OF DUTIES IN LOADING AND UNLOADING A TRAIN. 



Sec. 52. The operation of loading a train, or of unparking, in pre- 

 paring for a march, may be summarized as follows: 



(1) The mules follow the bell horse and take their places at the 

 rigging. They are tied together by means of their halter shanks as 

 they stand facing the rigging. 



(2) The packers then put on the aparejos. Each animal, after 

 receiving his aparejo, is tied to the lash rope under the load he is to 

 carry. (Sec. 58.) 



(3) The aparejos being on, the packers begin at once to load the 

 animals. As each animal receives its load it is turned loose, and cer- 

 tain men are detailed to keep the animals in the neighborhood of the 

 "bell." 



In the operation of unloading a pack train, or of parking, after a 

 march, the elements of a pack train are arranged as follows: 



(4) The cargo is formed by the cargador. (Sec. 53.) 



(5) The rigging is placed in an orderly manner, convenient to the 

 cargo. (Sec. 54.) 



(6) The animals, if not on herd, are tied to a picket line, placed 

 conveniently in rear of rigging. (Sec. 75.) 



(7) The kitchen is placed convenient to water and nearest to cargo. 

 In this order a pack train is parked in camp or bivouac. 



These various operations are described in detail in the succeeding 

 sections. 



2. LOADING A PACK TRAIN. 

 HOW TO FORM CARGO PREPARATORY TO LOADING THE MULES. 



Sec. 53. In selecting ground for the cargo always choose the highest 

 available, so that water will drain from it. 



In first forming a cargo at the place where the stores to be trans- 

 ported are received, the coiled lash ropes are all placed on the ground 

 in order before the loads are laid on them. 



Take the middle of the ground selected for the first rope. Undo a 

 lash rope (sec. 11) and place it on the ground, the cincha underneath 

 the coils, the end of the rope extended 10 feet. Get a sling rope and 

 place it on top of end of lash rope about 2 feet from coil. Take 

 another lash and sling rope and place them similarly near those 

 already in position, the heads of the coils adjoining and about 6 inches 

 apart, the ends of the lash ropes extended out in opposite directions. 



The remaining ropes are then placed in a similar manner in posi- 

 tion on either side of these two, thus leaving them in two lines, with 

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