Travelling in the Western Hunting Grounds. 21 



that of the pack-saddle, with its cross-trees at both ends, but, not- 

 withstanding this, far greater weights can be transported on the 

 aparejo, though the pace can never be more than a walk. All 

 packing for commercial purposes and the bulk of all military 

 packing is done in this way, the most unlikely looking articles, such 

 as safes, big iron cooking-stoves, chests of drawers, bits of heavy 

 mining machinery, and other unwieldy things, weighing as much as 

 40olb., have frequently been transported over steep mountain 

 passes, though the average load is only about 25olb. 



The pack-saddle packing is a different thing altogether. Two 

 side panniers of stout canvas or leather, the weight in each being 

 as equal as possible, being slung by loops to the cross-trees ; then 

 comes a top pack, generally a roll of blankets, and over all a 

 piece of canvas is spread, the whole being kept in position by a 

 lash-rope forming a "criss-cross" on top of the pack. The secret of 

 good packing consists in the manner in which the rope is thrown, 

 drawn together, and fastened down.* There are a number of 

 hitches, the diamond hitch being the best of all, not only on 

 account of the fact that it can be thrown by a man alone, but also 

 because there is less " give " about it than any other. To clumsy, 

 non-nautical hands this hitch is a standing puzzle, and though 

 I have learnt to throw the diamond scores of times, the slightest 

 break in practising it, invariably resulted in a muddle of the worst 

 kind. I acknowledge, however, that clumsier hands than mine 

 never handled a rope. A far easier hitch, to which I generally 

 resorted when doing my own packing, is the squaw, also called 

 tenderfoot hitch, which is less intricate, but also loosens its grip 

 more easily, particularly when, having but light loads, you trot the 

 pack animals. This, of course, tests any kind of hitch most 

 effectually. Under favourable conditions, with the loads nicely 

 balanced and fitting snugly into the panniers one can do with- 

 out these and the saddle as snugly fitted to the horse, with ropes 



* The rope is provided with a short length of girthing which comes under- 

 neath the horse's belly so as to prevent the rope cutting into the horse. 



