168 HORSE PACKING 



TO CONSTRUCT A TRAVOIS 



Made with two poles, light as can be had in the 

 country, from 14 to 16 feet long. The diameter at the 

 tips should not be greater than 2 inches. 



At the butt, 6 inches from the end, cut a notch deep 

 enough to hold the turns of a rope. 



Lay a manta or pack cover (or blanket if nothing 

 else is available) on the ground. Place the poles at the 

 two opposite sides leaving about 6 feet of the butts 

 beyond the ends to act as shafts for the mule. 



Roll the poles toward each other thereby winding 

 up the pack cover until it takes on the proportions of 

 a litter or stretcher, i. e., with a space left between the 

 poles of 2 or 3 feet. Fasten the rolled pack cover or 

 blanket by lashings or nails, horseshoe nails will be 

 always available in any pack outfit. 



Lash two cross sticks to hold the poles at their 

 distance. 



At the butts of the poles make fast a rope at the 

 notch previously cut and passing from one pole to the 

 other as a sling. This sling should have a slack of 

 about 18 inches. 



At the tips fasten another sling with plenty of slack, 

 or two ropes. These are to use in lifting the end of 

 the travois in passing over bad ground or through 

 fords. 



The travois is now as shown in Fig. /. 



