Most of the cattle of a wide range would go to certain water-holes more or less regularly, where they might be roughly collected or estimated.

This coming of the cattle to the watering-places made it unnecessary for owners of cattle to acquire ranch land.

It was enough to secure the water-front where the cows must go to drink.

That gave the owner all the title he needed.

His right to the increase he could prove by another phenomenon of nature, just as inevitable and invariable as that of thirst.