114 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



to procure this, the women were daily engaged in felling huge trees, 

 or climbing them fearlessly, chopping off the upper limbs — spring- 

 ing like squirrels from branch to branch, which, in their confined 

 costume, appeared matter of considerable difficulty. 



The most laughter-provoking scenes, however, w^ere when a 

 number of squaws sallied out to the grove, with their long-nosed, 

 wolfish-looking dogs harnessed to their travees or trabogans, on 

 which loads of cotton-wood were piled. The dogs, knowing full 

 well the duty required of them, refuse to approach the coaxing 

 squaws, and at the same time are fearful of provoking their 

 anger by escaping and running off. They therefore squat on 

 their haunches, with tongues hanging out of their long mouths, 

 the picture of indecision, removing a short distance as the irate 

 squaw approaches. When once harnessed to the travee, how- 

 ever, which is simply a couple of lodge-poles lashed on either side 

 of the dog, with a couple of cross-bars near the ends to support 

 the freight, they follow quietly enough, urged by bevies of chil- 

 dren, who invariably accompany the women. Once arrived at 

 the scene of their labors, the reluctance of the curs to draw near 

 the piles of cotton- wood is most comical. They will lie down 

 stubbornly at a little distance, whining their uneasiness, or some- 

 times scamper off bodily, Avith their long poles trailing after them, 

 pursued by the yelling and half frantic squaws. 



When the travees are laden, the squaws, bent double under 

 loads of wood sufficient to break a porter's back, and calling to 

 the dogs, which are urged on by the buffalo-fed urchins in rear, 

 lead the line of march. The curs, taking advantage of the help- 

 less state of their mistresses, turn a deaf ear to their coaxings, 

 lying down every few yards to rest, growling and fighting with 

 each other; in which encounters every cur joins the melee, charg- 

 ing pell-mell into the yelping throng, upsetting the squalling chil- 

 dren, and making confusion worse confounded. Then, armed with 

 lodge-poles, the squaws, throwing down their loads, rush to the 



