This meant his sign, his name, his trade-mark, his proof of ownership.

The animal could not shake it off.

It would not burn off in the sun or wash off in the rain.

It went with the animal and could not be eradicated from the animal's hide.

Wherever the bearer was seen, the brand upon its hide provided certain identification of the owner.
Now, all these basic ideas of the cow industry were old on the lower range in Texas when our white men first drifted thither.