ii. Pass the other T through the off ring of the bit from

outside to in and then through the near ring from inside to out.

The rein can now be used in the ordinary way; when, however, it is required to restrain a restive mule, or it is apprehended that mules may be frightened by coming under fire or otherwise, pull the T of the near rein, thus pulling the rein through the near ring of the bit, pass the loop of the rein in round the mule’s nose and haul fairly taut. The rein is now single in the driver’s hand, and when hauled on, compresses the mule’s nose and stops him.

=94.= _Training young mules._

1. Young mules are naturally timid and easily startled, but they are, as a rule, docile and easily broken in, if treated with great kindness and patience. Rough treatment of any kind must be avoided as likely to prove fatal to the successful training of the mule. Men must be carefully selected to break remount mules, and gunners will assist, if the drivers are natives, so as to accustom the mules to be handled by Europeans.

2. Saddling must be done at first with great caution, the saddle only being placed gently on the mule’s back and moved about quietly so as to accustom the animal to the feel of it before putting on the girths. In girthing up care must be taken not to draw the girths so tight as to cause any uneasiness to the mule, which will then be walked about and allowed to get used to the saddle before the other harness is gradually added. With the crupper especially great patience must be exercised, as it is likely at first to upset a timid mule.

3. A mule should be thoroughly accustomed to walking about with the saddle and harness before it is tried under a load. It is as well to start training a mule to carry loads by using two bags of sand or earth, weighing 80 lbs. each, and when it walks about with these quietly the training can be completed by substituting other loads. A young mule should always be allowed to become familiar with the sight of a load before this is tried on the saddle.

4. Young mules should accompany the battery on all hill parades from the first to accustom them to difficult ground and train their head and wind for hill work. They should be barebacked at first and when broken to the saddle should be saddled for parade.

5. They should not be loaded on the hillside till five years old, and at first the load should be a light one and only carried for a short distance; it should be gradually increased up to the full weight which the mule will be required to carry.

6. Finally, young mules must be trained to jump small ditches and similar obstacles without hesitation, and, at the end of the training, this should be done with a load on. In leaping a mule, the rein must always be left loose and a whip should not be used.

=95.= _Leading mules._

1. On good ground pack animals should always move closed up to their proper distance, but in going up or down hill and in crossing difficult ground the drivers will increase their distance and regulate their pace as circumstances may require. Should any mules appear distressed, they should be halted to enable them to recover their breath.

2. The driver should always give the mule a long rein when moving over rough or hilly country; this is quickly effected by the driver letting go the rein with the right hand, seizing the T-piece from the outside of the ring of the bit and pulling the rein through. In difficult ground the gunners will assist by steadying the loads and helping the mules along. It may even be necessary to unload the mules and carry the loads over an obstacle by hand. It is frequently advisable to attach drag ropes to top loads when descending steep places.

For ascents the driver must tighten the breastpiece and loosen the breeching of his mule, and for descents he will tighten the breeching and loosen the breastpiece. This can be quickly done without halting by means of the chain attachments of the breastpiece and breeching.

3. When a halt is ordered, any driver who has lost ground will continue to move with his mule until he has recovered his proper distance. Closing up to recover distance must be done steadily and by a gradual increase of pace, not by rushing. Trotting should not be allowed except by order.

When halting on hill roads, mules should be turned to stand level across the roads with their heads outwards from the hillside. If the width of the road does not admit of this, the drivers must stand to the head of their mules and keep them from turning, so as to avoid accidents.

4. It will happen sometimes on narrow roads that the driver must march in front of his mule. When this is the case, he must resume his position beside the mule and close up again to his proper distance as soon as the road widens sufficiently.

5. If a load becomes disarranged, the driver will fall out to the most convenient flank as soon as he can find room on the road, and when the load has been readjusted, he will, as soon as practicable, regain his place in column.

When a laden mule falls, its head should be held down to prevent it struggling, and the load must be removed before the mule is allowed to get up. In very difficult or dangerous ground the saddle should be removed as well as the load.