MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS 203 



blanket as a sweat-cloth on the horse's back (folded 

 so as to cover about two and a half feet length of 

 the back, and hanging down a little more than half- 

 way down the ribs) ; then folding all the blankets 

 and bedding to the same size, as much as possible, 

 lay them on top of the sweat-cloth, evenly, one by 

 one ; on the top of that lay the canvas or water- 

 proof sheeting, similarly folded ; then sling flour and 

 other provisions, in sacks, equally balanced on each 

 side of back (by means of small rope ties connecting 

 them and holding them in place) ; then put what- 

 ever other sack of dunnage there is still to go on, on 

 top, in the middle between the two last ; and then, 

 over all, holding everything together, goes the 

 'diamond hitch.' And if this is carefully put on 

 as regards balancing of weights, and made well taut 

 in all its parts, it will ' stick ' over the roughest 

 mountain trails, and when you take your pack off at 

 night you will find no sore back, as is so frequent 

 with a pack-saddle. 



" I have used the ' diamond ' under all circum- 

 stances, having packed only 20 lbs. of blankets with it 

 on a spare horse when going on a cattle round-up, 

 or 200 lbs. of general camp outfit on a mule when 

 crossing mountain trails where a wagon could not 

 go. It is too well known by name in the Far West 

 to require any testimonials, but one, I think, I may 

 give it. Twelve years ago, when I settled the 

 ranch on the Mexican frontier from which I write, 

 smuggling was the occupation of the Mexicans in 

 the frontier villages, and one day one of the * boss ' 



