18 INDIANOLA : 
head is secured between two wooden bars; and each 
foot, after a severe tussle, is fastened, by means of iron — 
clamps, to the four upright posts or cross-bars. The — 
victim is now ready for the shoeing process, whichis _ 
the most expeditious part of the operation. The shoes — 
having been previously brought to the size of the small _ 
hoofs, a blacksmith stands ready at each foot, with a — 
shoe, nails, and hammer in hand. He does not then 
pause in order to make a close fit; but the shoeis put — 
on in less time than a city farrier would spend in 
paring a horse’s hoof. This part of the job being © 
over, the finale of the operation is to haul the animal — 
out, which, owing to the spirit of perverseness inherent — 
in his nature, is generally attended with as. much 
difficulty as that of getting him into the stocks. He — 
is now suffered to go at large, unrestrained by the bars _ 
and rails of the corral. In this manner, about ong 
hundred and fifty mules were shod; and, as only twelve 
at the most could be got throngh with in one day, — 
about two weeks were necessarily spent in this portion — A 
of our fitting out for the march. Considerable time — 
was also occupied in preparing the shoes, which were s ee 
made in New York; and being adapted for the larger 
American mules, it was found necessary to reduce them 
all for the smaller and more delicately formed hoofs of 
our Mexican torments. 
Believing it would be more advantageous to the 
members of the Commission whose presence was not 
necessary in the camp where the work alluded to w: 
going on, and that it would be conducive to thei 
health, I left Victoria onsthe 13th, with the larger p 
tion of the Commission, and formed my camp in & 
