26 



THE MULE. 



other animal used in a team. But all the work you can 

 get out of him, over and above an ordinary day's work, 

 you have to work as hard as he does to accomplish 



Some curious facts have come under my knowledge 

 as to what the mule can endure. These facts also 

 illustrate what can be done with the animal by persons 

 thoroughly acquainted with his character. "While on 

 the plains, I have known Kiowa and Camanche Indians 

 to break into our pickets during the night, and steal 

 mules that had been pronounced completely broken 

 down by white men. And these mules they have rid- 

 den sixty and sixty-five miles of a single night. How 

 these Indians managed to do this, I never could tell. I 

 have repeatedly seen Mexicans mount mules that our 

 men had pronounced unfit for further service, and ride 

 them twenty and twenty-five miles without stopping. 

 I do not mention this to show that a Mexican can do 

 more with the mule than an American. He cannot. 

 And yet there seems to be some sort of fellow-feeling 

 between these Mexicans and the mule. One seems to 

 understand the other completely ; and in disposition 

 there is very little difference. And yet the Mexican is 

 so brutish in dealing with animals, that I never allowed 

 one of them to drive a Government team for me. In- 

 deed, a low Mexican does not seem disposed to work 

 for a man who will not allow him full latitude in the 

 abuse of animals. 



Pa/Jdng Mules. — The Mexican is a better packer 

 than the American. He has had more experience, and 

 understands all its details better than any other man. 

 Some of our United States officers liave tried to im- 



