358 THE COPPER MINES 
his escort to accompany the train of provisions, which 
was to follow by the California road under the charge 
of Captain Barry, and to join the surveying parties at 
or near the Pimo Villages, on the Gila. This would 
enable him to send to the settlements and get his 
. mules before our train would leave; and the surveying | 
_ parties would merely be deprived of his protection 
until they should reach that point. 
On the morning of the 27th of August, every thing 
was in commotion in our several camps, each party 
making their own arrangements for departing. A 
full day’s march was not contemplated; to leave our 
camp and quarters, to get our wagons, mules, tents 
and camp equipage together, and get a start, was all 
that we expected to accomplish the first day. 
We had not before used pack mules; so that this 
portion of our train and its preparation was a novelty 
to us.* The mules are first driven up, brought into a 
line, and tied. The packs for each are arranged, so 
that each may carry the same weight, and such articles 
are selected to accompany each other as will ride best 
together. Thus two trunks or panniers of equal weight 
are placed together for one animal—cooking utensils 
in hampers for another—tents, poles and bedding for 
a third—provisions according to their bulk and weight 
for others, and so on. These are arranged with much 
care, and the arriero or muleteer, endeavors to pre-* 
serve the same load for each mule as long as he can. 
*Pack mules are not used in Texas, in the northern portions of 
Chihuahua, and but little in New Mexico, as the country can be every 
where traversed with wagons. The poor farmers, however, use them as 
well as jackasses to carry wood, cae cone 
