TWENTY MULE TRAIN

Grandma used borax, a lot of borax. There was a string of twenty mules on the box, I imagined it was driven by men who were beery . . . a whip-totin' . . . gun-blazin' son of a coyote cowboys . . . from the orneriest end of the desert!

Eighteen mules and two horses were hitched together by single and double trees to form the twenty team. They were then latched to an 80-foot chain running the entire length of the team which was fastened directly onto the lead wagon. A long rope ran through the collar ring of each left-hand mule up to the lead mules. This rope was called the "jerk line" and was the primary method the driver had of controlling the team. A steady and hard pull of the jerk line turned the mule team to the left. A series of jerks turned the team to the right. The mules were trained to jump over the chain, when necessary.

Three men were needed to operate the twenty mules team. The "Driver" sat on top of the lead wagon and held the reins while guiding the team across the rugged terrain of the Mojave Desert. The "Teamster" or "Muleskinner" rode one of the horses which were the last two animals in the line. One of the "Muleskinner's" primary responsibilities was harnessing and unharnessing the team and handling the brake of the lead wagon. The "Swamper" rode on the rear wagon and was responsible for manning the rear wagon's brake on the steep downhill descents. He was also the chief cook and dishwasher on the trip. Imagine, if you will, twenty million pounds of borax hauled out of the desert lake bed in six years. All scraped and ready to load by Chinese who worked in 130 degree heat for $1.50 a day.

Is borax still available? Yes it is. It is on the bottom shelf in the cleaning isle. The same place that as 14 colors, dispense methods, and sizes of Dawn.

What can we, the modern keeper of the house use borax for? Well, not to recall 18 mules and two horses !!!

Here is a recipe for an alkaline all-purpose natural cleaning agent. We are supposed to be able to use it everywhere: in the bathroom, the kitchen, to spot clean the carpets, and to get that black gunk off the walls. It neutralizes odors, dissolves grease, and removes stains. -

1 teaspoon or 40 drops antiseptic essential oil (thyme, sweet orange, lemongrass, rose, clove, eucalyptus, cinnamon, rosemary, birch, lavender, or tea tree) -

1 teaspoon baking soda -

2 teaspoons Borax -

1 teaspoon liquid detergent -

2 c hot water

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake to blend before each use.

I am not sure how to keep the water hot until the bottle is empty but I have written borax on my shopping list and will give it a try.

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