26 



NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 



being caused by the tread of tbe ponies, tbe two outer by the 

 trailing of tbe lodge-poles. 



From Salina to Fort Harker our course took us along tbe 



m 



travelled road to Denver and I^ew Mexico, and plenty of 

 company we had on the way. At every mile or so we would 

 pass long ox-trains heavily laden with goods (I have counted 

 as many as eighty wagons in a train), and if toe found the 







-r':^?^^ 



Sioux Indian Lodges or Tents; one packed for a journey, the other standing. 



bad roads difficult, how much worse was the travelling for 



them ! Each wagon carrying from 6,000 lbs 



8,000 lbs 



J 



would be drawn by eight, sometimes ten, yoke of oxen, wbicn 

 number would require about three ''bull- whackers" (generally 



swarthy Mexicans) 



help them along," with their heavy 



leather thongs. When one of these wagons stuck fast in a 

 guUey, it was amusinp: to see the enormous amount of brute 



