36 OXEN AGAINST MULES. 



gons in these expeditions have been drawn 

 by oxen. They possess many advantages, 

 such as pulling- heavier loads than the same 

 number of mules, particularly through muddy 

 or sandy places ; but they generally fall off in 

 strength as the prairie grass becomes drier and 

 shorter, and often arrive at their destination in 

 a most shocking plight. Li this condition I 

 have seen them sacrificed at Santa Fc for ten 

 dollars the pair; though in more favorable 

 seasons, they sometimes remain strono- enough 

 to be driven back to the United Stktes the 

 same faU. Therefore, although the original 

 cost of a team of mules is much greate^ the 

 loss ultimately sustained by them is conside- 

 rably less,— to say nothing of the comfort of 

 being able to travel faster and more at ease. 

 ihe mfenonty of oxen as regards endurance 

 IS partiaUy owing to the tenderness of their 

 teet ; for there are very few among the thou- 

 sands who have travelled on the Prairies that 

 ever knew how to shoe them property. Many 

 have resorted to the curious expedient of 

 shoemg their animals Avith 'moccasins' 

 made cf raw buffalo skin, which does remark- 

 ably well as long as the weather remains 



f^ ' . u'* ^^'''' ^""^^ ^^^""y ^^^ soon worn 

 through. Even mules, for the most part per- 



.^X 1^""^'%^'? "^^^^^^^ ^^^g «hod at aU, 

 imless the hoofs become very smooth, wMch 



sometimes renders all their movements on the 

 ^ pssy surface as laborious as if they were 

 treadmg upon ice. ^ 



The suppUes bemg at length procured, and 



