74 TRAVELS IN 
rear arc ufed only in tranfporting their bag- 
gage, when they quit one place in order to 
cflablifii themfelves in another^ the re- 
mainder are deftined for procuring them ne- 
ceflaries by barter, 
Thofe oxen which they intend for carry- 
ing burdens muft be broke and trained very 
early to this fervice ; otherwife they would 
become abfolutely untradable. On this ac- 
count, when the animal is ftill young, they 
pierce the cartilage which feparates the no-* 
ftrils, and thruft through the hole a piece of 
ftick about eight or ten inches in length, 
and almoft an inch in dianieter. To fix this 
ftick, and to prevent it from dropping, they 
feciire it with a leiathern thong, which is faft- 
ened to both its ends. This curb, which 
ferves to flop and reftrain the animal, is left 
in this pofition as long as it continues in life. 
When the ox has attained to its full ftrength, 
or nearly fo;, they begin by accuftoming it to 
endure a leathern girth, which they bind 
clofer from time to time, without incom- 
moding it ; and they carry this to fuch a 
degree, that any other animal with which 
the fame precautions might not be taken, 
would be flifled by it, and inftantly perifh. 
Some 
