This book is included in the Outdoor Survival Basics section.
Introduction Where and when to camp; how to equip and manage a train of pack-mules; break, gear, and saddle wild horses; cross streams, build log shanties, trenail a raft, dig out a canoe or build it with bark or hide, manage dog-sleighs, and tramp on snowshoes; what to carry and what to leave at home; or, to sum up in a few words, the way to get through a wild country as one ought, by adopting the better means of doing that which has to be done, are matters of no trifling value to travellers of all denominations. There are details that a novice cannot possibly acquire, save it be from the past experiences of other travellers, or, failing assistance such as this, he must learn his lessons in the field and forest by finding them out for himself, always a tedious, unsatisfactory, and very expensive process. Believe me, in travelling, as in everything else, there is a right way and a wrong way of going to work, and, for some inexplicable reason, 'young beginners' are strangely predisposed to follow the latter course. The experience of twenty years passed as a rambler in various parts of the world, though principally as trapper, hunter, and naturalist, East and West of the Rocky Mountains, enables me to state from actual observation, that a 'green hand,' to use a slang term, on his first visit to a wild country, in nine cases out of ten arrives from the land of civilisation completely hampered, entangled, and weighed down, so to speak, with a medley of utterly useless things, which he never would have purchased had he been guided or directed by any person who knew how to travel. Again and again, friends and strangers have sought my guidance, when fitting out to travel, either in the pursuit of sport and pleasure or to seek a fortune in far-off lands as emigrants. Hence I am induced to offer a few practical hints on the general details of travelling, trusting the rough suggestions I shall offer may prove of use to those who are disposed to venture into a distant country wherein wheels, steam, iron and macadamised roads, are unknown luxuries; and in which, as a Yankee once said to me, 'in reference to Southern Oregon: 'Stranger, you bet your bottom dollar a man has to keep his eyes skinned, his knife sharp, and his powder dry, or he'll hav' his har ris'd, sure as beaver medicine, if he travels thim parts.' John Keast Loed, F.Z.S. Late Naturalist to the British North American Boundary Commission; Author of the 'Naturalist in Vancouver Island and British Columbia. Table of Contents CHAPTER I. Home in the Wilderness and Elsewhere—An Imaginary Journey—What the word Packing means—Fitting out for a Journey—Rules to be observed in the choice of Pack Animals—Geldings preferable to Mares—Mules killed by Magpies and Blowing-flies—Beware of Crupper Cuts—What a Hoof ought not to be, and what it ought to be— Shoeing advisable, if possible—How to examine the Eyes—Mules with Defective Vision dangerous to a degree— Prevalence of 'Cataract'—The way to examine the Teeth—Parrot-Mouthed Mules always lose condition—Never work Pack Animals thin—'Points' of a good Pack Mule. CHAPTER II. Average worth of Pack Mules—Mortality in Cold Regions—Poisonous effects of the Horse-tail Rush (eguisetum)— Advantages of Sheds and Dryth—The Bell-mare—Value of a Horse's Tail—Branding. CHAPTER III. Fur-Traders' System of Packing—Journey from Fort Colville to Fort Hope—Disadvantages of the Cross-tree Pack- saddle—Crimean Pack Saddles radically bad—Desirability of the 'Aparejo '—How to make an Aparejo—Its Weight— Evidences of Suffering—In search of Pack Saddles—The 'Rigging'. CHAPTER IV. Riding Saddles—Stirrups—'Cabresto' preferable to an ordinary bridle—Tethering. CHAPTER V. Wagons and Teaming. CHAPTER VI. The more desirable form of Tent—The Lodge of the Savage—The Sibley Tent—The Bell Tent—The Gable-ended Tent—The Miner's Tent—Half-shelter Tent—Poles and Pegs—How to pitch a Tent and make it secure. CHAPTER VII. A Hunter's Bedding—Bedding for Tents or Log-houses—Bedstead, how to make—Systems of Packing up Bedding —Tools necessary for a Wanderer The way to fell your first Tree—How to split a Log—Traps to be avoided. CHAPTER VIII. Cooking Utensils—A Frying pan equal to any emergency—Tea and Coffee versus Rum and Water—Canteens more ornamental than useful—The Plan for making your own Camp Baskets—Iron Ovens—Camp Kettles—Flour better than Biscuit—Yeast Powder. How to bake a Loaf—Fixed Ovens CHAPTER IX. What to wear—Avoid Leather—Woollen Fabrics preferable to all others—Boots—Moccasins—How to manage with Snow-shoes—Hat—Mosquito bag—Fishing Gear—A good day's Sport CHAPTER X. Firearms—Muzzle-loaders—Breech-loaders—Rifles—Revolvers—Shot-belt versus Pouch—The better Plan for cleaning Guns CHAPTER XI. Packing the Train for a start—Driving in—Haltering—Putting on the Aparejos and 'Saddling up'—Synching—Packing on the Load—The way to pack Barrels—Slinging—Roping and Covering—Throwing the Riata and fastening it—Our March—The abandoned Camp—Entering the Timber—'Stringing out' and Counting—Mules apt to lie down if halted CHAPTER XII. Narrow Trails—Pack master goes ahead of the Bell-mare—Mountain Passes—Bridge-making—Crossing Swamps— Dangerous Comers CHAPTER XIII. How to cross Rivers—Swim Mules—Make Rafts, Canoes, and a Bull-Boat—The way to cross a River with your Horse, and to Raft your Gun, and Ammunition, without wetting them—Camping—Unsaddling—End of the March CHAPTER XIV. Mustangs: their first appearance in Mexico—Found in Texas. California, Oregon, British Columbia, and Elsewhere— Breaking a Wild Horse not an Easy Task—A Wanderer should be his own Manufacturer—The Way to Make a Lassoo and a Cabresto—Lassooing, Saddling, Mounting, Roping Wild Cattle—An Exciting Adventure CHAPTER XV. Winter and Summer Travelling with Dogs—Idlers—Free Fights—Packing Dogs—The 'Travaille' preferable—How to make and use a Travaille—The Sleigh and Tobogan—Bone Rings and Toggles—The Way to Harness your Team— A long Whip desirable—Precautions against Rheumatism—Sure Bind Sure Find—Feeding Dogs—Sore Feet— Merry-Bells CHAPTER XVI. The Wild Honey-bee—Bee Hunting—How to line a Bee—Honey Hunting often a Profitable Employment—Texan Islands—A Hunter's Disgust—Edible Berries—Roots often Poisonous and to be Eaten with Caution—Substitute for Tobacco—Insects which are devoured by the Red People Pemmican—Preserving Meat—Extractum Carnis: Morgan's system—Preserving Beef and Mutton fresh—Jerking Beef—Catching and Curing White-fish and Salmon CHAPTER XVII. A Puzzle for a Carpenter—To Build a Log-house without Iron—Split-Shingles—Put on the Roof—Make a Door, Fireplace, and Chimney Log Quarters of the Boundary Commission—Effects of Cold—A Caution to be remembered —To procure a Light from two pieces of Wood Getting a Light with a Gun—How to carry Lucifers CHAPTER XVIII. Mosquitoes— Sand-flies — The Breeze-fly — The Trumpet-flies—Jack-Spaniards—Stone-Wasps—Rattle-Snake Bites—A use for the Rattle—The Trap-door Spider—The Deer-tick—Leeches in the Mouth CHAPTER XIX. Hints on Taxidermy—What Tools to carry-—To set Fall-trap—How to Pack the proceeds of the Hunt—The End
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