THE EOYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
459 
The last pattern of general service pack saddle has been complained of 
on account of the bearing of the side bars, the transverse section resembling 
a Y too closely, and the saddle having a tendency to squeeze the mule into 
the Y. Vide Fig. 2, shaded portion. 
Fig. 2. 
In the present pattern, by adopting the form shewn by the unshaded part, 
a bearing is obtained with surfaces forming an obtuse angle, and therefore 
with little tendency to rub and wedge the horse. The back bone is of course 
quite clear. 
Two patterns of saddles are supplied :— 
(1) The mountain artillery saddle for gun and carriage, with tree of 
walnut, iron bound, and with separate pannels attached to side bars having 
a slit inside each panned to admit the hand to move and adjust the stuffing 
if necessary. Walnut wood is very light, well suited to stand climate, but 
easily split. 
Small steel axletree arms are attached to the saddles which carry the 
carriage, to take the wheels. The general form of this saddle may be seen 
on sketch, and Fig. 2. 
The gun is carried across the mule, a gun so placed appears at first 
dangerous when moving on a narrow way close along the face of a cliff; 
this gun however is short enough to form the narrowest load in the battery, 
a mule's back being curved behind the wither, the weight can be brought 
lower down and closer in to his back, laid across it, than along it, and the 
higher the centre of gravity of the load, the longer the lever with which it 
acts to upset the mule if thrown at all out of its position of “ unstable 
equilibrium," and so also the more unequal the strain on him in climbing 
and descending steep places. 
The carriage is placed longitudinally, vide sketch, this is perhaps the 
most awkward load in the battery, owing to the oscillation of the trail and 
the tendency to work slightly loose. 
The load on the mountain artillery saddle is secured by a “ wantie " of 
web and cord. 
The Otago saddle brought to notice by Deputy Commissariat General 
Bailey, C.B., who knew it by experience in New Zealand, is supplied to 
carry ammunition, and for general service. 
