Canteen

Canteen were used to carry drinking water in a pack or on a saddle. The contents could be kept cool by wetting the exterior canvas cover and hanging the canteen in the open air from a branch, fencepost or hook.

In her book, Death Valley Scotty by Mabel, Bessie Johnson quoted Scotty explaining how they stored water when the Johnsons' stayed on the property in tents: "I remember one time when we was livin' in the tents; we used to have the drinking water in a five-gallon bottle, all wrapped up in gunney sacks. We hung it up in the willow tree, about a hundred feet from the tents. It was hung in a rope sling and kind of balanced, so when you wanted a drink you could tip it, easy; then, after you drnak, you always took a little water and wet the gunney sacks around it to keep it wet, and the kept the water cool."