THE START 4I 



Patagonia, every sale of an animal or a hide must be 

 registered in the office of the Justice; who will not make 

 out a bill of sale until ownership has been proved either 

 by production of the former bill going with each animal, 

 or, when the owner has raised the animal, by proof of the 

 registration of the brand. While often troublesome, for 

 the office may be miles away, this is a fine guarantee of 

 ownership, and protection against theft, for only an owner 

 can dispose of an animal. 



As the universal practice of the country is to drive three 

 horses abreast, we had our doubletrees lengthened so our 

 horses could walk in the two outside tracks. The Pata- 

 gonian wagon has thills, between which they put the best 

 horse, and the others are hitched to single trees on either 

 side. More horses can be added either in front or by 

 hitching them by ropes to the axles or even the wagon box. 



About two in the afternoon we began to load in, which 

 attracted nearly half of the town as spectators. There is 

 usually enough in the first packing of the wagon to make 

 one irritable, for nothing fits, ropes are new, and everyone 

 is a little nervous. Our crowd was openly skeptical of a 

 two-horse team, in fact of anything less than twelve to 

 twenty horses to be used in relays; and besides inspecting 

 everything, insisted on giving us advice and offering bets 

 as to whether we would go three or four days before getting 

 stuck, or as to where our horses would die on us. However, 

 we had faith in the North American method of traveling, 

 that of using few horses and feeding them. 



At 3.30 we got away on the road to Rawson, Shumway 

 riding Paddy for his first experience on horseback. After 

 getting a good start I rode ahead to arrange for a stop- 

 ping place, and to see the Governor again. For about ten 

 miles Shumway kept up, then concluded to let his horse 

 walk in the rest of the way. When next seen he was re- 

 lieving his indignation in English on a Spanish audience. 

 He was sore enough, but the small boys had sensed the 



