Each pound of superfluous weight was cast away as our motive power thus lessened.

Wagons were abandoned, goods were packed on horses, oxen and cows.

We put cows into the yoke now, and used women instead of men on the drivers' seats, and boys who started riding finished afoot.

Our herds were sadly lessened by theft of the Indians, by death, by strayings which our guards had not time to follow up.

If a wagon lagged it was sawed shorter to lessen its weight Sometimes the hind wheels were abandoned, and the reduced personal belongings were packed on the cart thus made, which nevertheless traveled on, painfully, slowly, yet always going ahead.