124 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



with an excellent supply of water, where an enor- 

 mous correl (accent on the last syllable) had been 

 constructed. A correl is a circular enclosure, built 

 immensely strong, of timber, in order to resist the 

 shock of imprisoned herds of horses or cattle. The 

 < round-up ' is the outfit that makes periodical ex- 

 cursions after steers for market about once every six 

 weeks from July to October. 



A cow-puncher out on the round-up expects to 

 be employed for about four weeks on the actual 

 rounding-up of the steers or cattle generally, and 

 if he should be wanted to help in ' shipping ' the 

 three-year-olds to Chicago, he may expect another 

 fortnight's work. The ' round-ups ' follow each other 

 in quick succession. Indeed, one outfit may have 

 ' started out ' before the foreman and his assistants 

 have returned from depositing the preceding lot of 

 cattle in the market. 



Several different outfits usually join and work to- 

 gether namely those belonging to the neighbouring 

 ranches, which have, of course, each their own bed- 

 waggon and tent, but may be served by the same 

 cook and cook waggon. The day's work is laid down 

 beforehand, and one day's work is conducted like an- 

 other, the only difference or variation consisting in 

 the fact that the portion of country worked each day 

 is different, and that in the early part of the season 

 more branding of calves and yearlings is done than 

 during the latter portion. The day's work is much as 

 follows. The whole of the outfit or various outfits 



