SADDLES AND SORE BACKS. I99 



the neck. The oscillation of the load is due to bad packing, a web 

 surcingle should envelop the entire load and keep it secure to the 

 animal's body and so avoid swaying. 



A want of equilibrium in a load is a most serious source of trouble, Balance 

 and one which a few moments' attention would rectify. If an animal o^ w'eight. 

 has a pack of 100 lbs. to carry it is certain he will carry it with more 

 ease, less expenditure of energy, and with less risk of injury if it is so 

 disposed that 50 lbs. hang on either side of the body than if one load 

 weighs 52 lbs. and the other 48 lbs. When the difference in weight is 

 ten or even twenty pounds the risk of injury is enormously increased. 

 Badly arranged loads, or what is more common, the thoughtlessness of 

 soldiers, largely account for this want of equilibrium ; when all 

 the odds and ends left on a camping ground are hung indiscriminately 

 on the nearest mules, and the baggage guard hang their rifles on any 

 available projection in the load, the disturbance of balance can be readily 

 understood. Of such supreme importance is the matter of load 

 equilibrium that it would be far better to add a stone or a packet of sand 

 to the light side rather than permit unequal loads to exist ; but as a 

 rule this is unnecessary, the picketing gear, nosebag, &c., of the mule 

 is always available for small adjustments. The transport animals of an 

 army shall be regarded as worth their weight in gold, no care or super- 

 vision can be too great or too strict. The eye of a transport officer 

 cannot be everywhere in a column extending for miles, but arrangements 

 should be made for dividing it into sections for the purpose of supervision, 

 which latter must be constant and unremitting, taking cognisance of 

 badly fitting harness, saddles, badly adjusted loads, overdriving, 

 unauthorized loads, ungreased wheels, flogging and other irregularities 

 which go to swell the unenviable lot of a transport animal. 



At this point it may be convenient to briefly enumerate the conditions Essential 

 which are essential in loading pack transport. points in 



1. The load should be carried as far as possible over the tops of the p^^^i^ 



ribs and as little as possible over the sides of them. Every transport, 

 endeavour should be made to avoid compressing the sides, for 

 not only is the load carried at a disadvantage if placed low down, 

 but it interferes with the breathing. 



2. A very high load is disadvantageous as it sways backwards and 



forwards during progression. 



3. No load should touch an animal's body ; if it extends in front of 



or behind the pack saddle it should be quite clear of the 

 shoulders and hips. 



