40 STRAYING OF CATTLE. 



the inclemencies of the weather, there should 

 be spread upon each wagon a pah of stout 

 Osnaburg sheets, with one of sufficient width 

 to reach the bottom, of the body on each side 

 so as to protect the goods from drivmg rains. 

 By oniittuig this important precaution many 

 packages of merchandise have been seriously 

 injured. Some have preferred hnmg the exte- 

 rior of the wagon-body by tacking a simple 

 strip of sheeting all around it. On tlie outward 

 trips especially, a pair of Mackinaw blankets 

 can be advantageously spread betwixt tlie 

 tw^o sheets, which effectually secures the roof 

 against the worst of storms. This contri- 

 vance has also the merit of turning the blan- 

 kets into a profitable item of trade, by enabling 

 the owners to evade the custom-house officers, 

 who would other\\4se seize them as contra- 

 band articles. 



The mischief of the storm did not exhaust 

 itself, however, upon our persons. The loose 

 animals sought shelter in the groves at a con- 

 siderable distance from the encampment, and 

 the wagoners being loth to turn out in search 

 of them during the rain, not a few of course, 

 when apphed for, were missing. This, how- 

 ever, is no uncommon occurrence. Travellers 

 generally experience far more annoyance 

 from the straying of cattle during the first 

 hundred miles, than at any time ^terwards ; 

 because, apprehending no danger from the 

 wild Indians (who rarely approach witliin 

 two hundred miles of the border), they seldom 

 keep any watch, although that is the very 



