a_, for
various purposes, and made fast to the bottom of the chest; _d_, _d_
are lids opening with hinges; _f_ (in figure B) is a wooden leg,
turning upon a hinge, and fitting snugly between two pieces of wood
screwed upon the cover.

LITTERS.

Should a party traveling with pack animals, and without ambulances or
wagons, have one of its members wounded or taken so sick as to be
unable to walk or ride on horseback, a litter may be constructed by
taking two poles about twenty feet in length, uniting them by two
sticks three feet long lashed across the centre at six feet apart, and
stretching a piece of stout canvas, a blanket, or hide between them to
form the bed. Two steady horses or mules are then selected, placed
between the poles in the front and rear of the litter, and the ends of
the poles made fast to the sides of the animals, either by attachment
to the stirrups or to the ends of straps secured over their backs.

[Illustration: HORSE-LITTER.]

The patient may then be placed upon the litter, and is ready for the
march.

The elasticity of the long poles gives an easy motion to the
conveyance, and makes this method of locomotion much more comfortable
than might be supposed.

The prairie Indians have a way of transporting their sick and children
upon a litter very similar in construction to the one just described,
excepting that one animal is used instead of two. One end of the litter
is made fast to the sides of the animal, while the other end is left to
trail upon the ground. A projection is raised for the feet to rest
against and prevent the patient from sliding down. Instead of canvas,
the Indians sometimes lash a large willow basket across the poles, in
which they place the person to be transported. The animals harnessed to
the litter must be carefully conducted upon the march, and caution used
in passing over rough and broken ground.

[Illustration: HAND-LITTER.]

A very convenient and comfortable method of packing a sick or wounded
man when there are no animals disposable, and which is sometimes
resorted to by the Indians, is to take two small poles about ten feet
long, and lash three cross-pieces to them, one in the centre, and the
other two about eighteen inches from the ends. A blanket or hide is
then secured firmly to this frame, and the patient placed upon it under
the centre cross-piece, which prevents him from falling out. Two men
act as carriers, walking between the ends of the long poles.