THE CAPE WAGON. 3^ 



else which he may wish to have at hand. 1 used to 

 devote one to contain my luncheon, which often con- 

 sisted of a slice of elephant's trunk. 



The traveler sleeps upon a sort of cot, termed a " car- 

 dell." This cardell is a light, strong, oblong frame, 

 about eight feet in length, and occupying the breadth 

 of the wagon. It is bored all round with small holes, 

 through which strips of hide are interlaced, forming a 

 sort of net-work on which the mattress rests. This cot 

 is slung across the wagon, and is attached with thongs 

 to the bows of the tent, its elevation being regulated 

 by the cargo, which is carefully stowed away beneath 

 it in the body of the wagon. Suspended underneath 

 the hind part of the vehicle is a strong wooden framo« 

 work called the trap, on which the pots and gridirons 

 are lashed during a march. The wagon is steered by 

 a pole, called the dissel-boom, to the end of which is 

 fastened the trek-tow, a stout rope formed of raw buf- 

 falo-hide. It is pulled by a span, or team, consisting 

 of twelve oxen, which draw the wagon by yokes fas- 

 tened along the trek-tow at regular intervals by means 

 of strips of raw hide. Passing through each end of the 

 yoke, at distances of eighteen inches from one another, 

 are two parallel bars of tough wood about eighteen inch- 

 es in length ; these are called yoke-skeys. In inspan- 

 ning^ the yoke is placed on the back of the neck of the 

 ox, with one of these skeys on either side, and toward 

 the ends are notches in which is fixed the strap, made 

 of twisted hide ; this, passing under the neck of the ani- 

 mal, secures him in the yoke. 



Besides these straps, each pair of oxen is strongly 

 coupled by the buffalo rheims, which are used in catch- 

 ing and placing them in their proper order preparatory 

 to inspanning them : a rheim is a long strip ol prepared 



