238 THE CAMP AND ITS COMFORTS. Book II. 
The caravan usually travels from early in the morning 
until eleven o'clock ; it then stops to rest, to cook, to eat, 
to water the mules, and let them graze. In the afternoon 
a second journey is performed : the night encampment is 
formed if possible before dark, and the drove is taken to 
water and turned out to grass for the night. In selecting 
a place for encampment, attention must be paid to the 
different kinds of grass, which are of very unequal value as 
fodder for the cattle ; likewise to the vicinity, abundance, 
quality, and accessibility of the water; to the facility of 
arrival and departure, and security against the Indians. 
The waggon-master rides on before, to reconnoitre the 
country for this purpose — a task often accompanied with 
danger. The order of inarch is, however, frequently re- 
versed, the journey being made by night and the party 
resting by day. 
As soon as the teams are unharnessed, the first watch 
has to mount guard, whilst the others light their camp- 
fires, prepare their meal, eat, smoke, chat, and repose, until 
their turn comes to relieve guard. For this purpose the 
men are divided into corps, each with its leader, and they 
relieve one another every two hours. Under the protec- 
tion of this well-armed guard, the animals are kept out at 
grass during the night. Shortly before daybreak, however, 
the herd is driven into the corral, as pillaging bands of 
Indians prefer this time for their attacks : the camp is then 
aroused, and harnessing begins. 
It need hardly be mentioned that the only couch for 
sleeping is the ground, upon which is spread a blanket or 
the skin of some animal: the saddle serves for a pillow, 
and a few blankets give the necessary warmth to the body. 
The traveller lays his gun — his faithful bed-fellow — under 
his blanket. When the ground is dry and not too uneven, 
