70 NEW TEACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 



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into line a mile long, upon tlie plain, measuring and taking 



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observations at every point. On one side of this line came 

 tlie wagons, following each other closely, and guarded by a 

 small body of the escort. The. remainder of the cavahy 

 moved with the surveyors — some in front, others in the rear, 

 and the greater number in the centre, so that, being between 

 this body of cavalry and the wagon train, the long line of 

 surveyors was well protected. The transit-man, carr 

 his instrument on his shoulder, and riding a mule at a gallop, 

 would suddenly stop, jump oif, arrange the transit, wave to 

 the flag-man ahead, wait until satisfied of the correctness of 

 his observ^ation, then back into the saddle, shoulder his 

 transit, and gallop away again. Behind him came the rod- 

 men and levellers, mounted in the same way, and advancing 

 with a like rapid accuracy. It was very hard on the mules, 

 but by five o'clock that evening fifteen miles had been 

 chained, "located," and levelled — ^no chance nor guesswork, 

 but an accurate preliminary survey. 



Under a July sun this activity could not possibly be kept 

 up indefinitely ; so, about every two hours, when one party 

 was tired, those in the emptied wagon would relieve them, 

 while the men who had been working would get in and rest. 

 In this manner the day passed by, and evening came. After 

 working until it was too dark to see any longer, we halted ; 

 and, too tired for the most part to pitch tents, threw our 

 blanltets on the ground, and soon fell asleep. Our days 

 march was twenty-one miles, but of these, six had been 

 sun^eyed before. 



About mid-day we had passed two pools of stagnant wa 

 left after the rains. All the animals were supplied from 

 these, so that they did not suffer much from thii'st during the 

 night. It was, however, a miserable camping ground, on 



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