STRAW AND HIDE SHOES. 103 



method by which the shoe is attached to the hoof. 

 It must be clear to every one that in proportion as 

 the hoof is injured by the operation, the shoe must 

 be a bad one. The Japanese have a very simple and 

 ingenious mode of shoeing horses. The animals are 

 not shod at all, according to our ideas — that is, the 

 shoe is not attached permanently to the hoof. 



But, on a journey, a ridei or driver is provided 

 with a number of shoes made, not of iron, but of 

 straw. They are not made only to surround the 

 hoof, so as to throw the weight of the animal on the 

 wall, but are, in fact, thick sandals made of closely 

 plaited straw, and tied on the foot by thongs. 



Their cost is a mere trifle, and when they are 

 worn out they are thrown away and another set 

 substituted for them if needed. They are only used 

 when required, so that the sides of a bad piece 

 of road are always strewn thickly with worn-out 

 sandals, while scarcely any are to be found on the 

 good portions. 



In North America, shoes of a similar nature are 

 employed. They are not, however, made of straw, 

 but of the all-useful raw bison hide called 'parfleche,' 

 and, except in shape, are identical with the moccasins 

 which are used by the hunters, whether they be 

 white or red men. 



As to iron shoes, the only kind which does not 



