the old original Spanish
cayuse.

In a properly-organized cattle country all cattle brands must be
recorded at the County seat. Because of the prodigious number and
variety of brands of almost every conceivable pattern and device it is
difficult to adopt a quite new and safe one that does not conflict in
some way with others. This for the honest man; the crooked man, the
thief, the brand-burner is not so troubled. _He_ will select a brand
such as others already in use may be easily changed into. To give a very
few instances. If his own brand be 96 and another's 91 the conversion is
easy. If it be [**#] and another's [**-II-] it is equally easy; or if it
be [**3--E], as was one of our own brands, the conversion of it into
[**d--B] is too temptingly simple. It was only after much consideration
that I adopted for my own personal brand [**U]--a mule shoe on the left
hip and jaw. It was small and did not damage the hide too much, was
easily stamped on, looked well and was pretty safe. Among brands I have
seen was HELL in large letters covering the animal's whole side.

With a band of horses a bell-mare (madrina) is sometimes used. The mare
is gentle, helps to keep the lot together, and the bell lets you know on
a dark night where they are. With a lot of mules a madrina is always
used, as her charges will never leave her.

All the grooming cow-ponies get is self-administered. After a long ride,
on pulling the saddle off, the pony is turned loose, when he at once
proceeds to roll himself from one side to another, finishing up with a
"shake" before he goes off grazing. If he has been overridden he may not
succeed in rolling completely over. This is regarded as a sure sign that
he has been overridden, and you know that he will take some days, or
even maybe weeks, to recover from it. I have seen horses brought in
absolutely staggering and trembling and so turned loose. A favourite
mount is seldom so mistreated; and if the boss is present the rider
knows he will take a note of it. One can imagine how delightful and
refreshing this roll and shake must be, quite as refreshing as a cold
bath (would be) to the tired and perspiring rider. Alas! cold or hot
baths are not obtainable by the cattleman for possibly months at a time.
The face and hands alone can receive attention. The new and modern idea
of bodily self-cleansing is here effectually put in force and apparently
with good health results. The rivers when in flood are extremel