Half an hour is the full time allowed to prepare for the march, but if
anyone is sick, or their animals have strayed, notice is sent to the
guide, who halts until all is made right. From the time the flag is
hoisted however, till the hour of camping arrives, it is never taken
down. The flag taken down is a signal for encamping, while it is up the
guide is chief of the expedition, captains are subject to him, and the
soldiers of the day are his messengers, he commands all. The moment the
flag is lowered his functions cease and the captains and soldiers'
duties commence. They point out the order of the camp, and every cart as
it arrives moves to its appointed place. This business usually occupies
about the same time as raising camp in the morning, for everything moves
with the regularity of clockwork.
The captains and other chiefs have agreed on rules to govern the
expedition, such as, that no buffaloes are to be run on Sunday, no party
is to lag behind or to go before, no one may run a buffalo without a
general order, etc. The punishment for breaking the laws are for a first
offence: the offender had his saddle and bridle cut up: for the second,
to have the coat taken off his back and cut up: for the third, the
offender was flogged.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219