covered wagons pulled by oxen were common, particularly in the early american companies. in october 1845, as lds members were preparing to leave nauvoo, the "nauvoo neighbor" printed an extensive list of suggested provisions for each family wagon. the provisions included two to three yoke of oxen, two milk cows, other livestock, arms and ammunition, 15 lb of iron, pulleys and ropes, fishing gear, farming and mechanical equipment, cooking equipment and at least 1000 pounds of flour plus assorted other foodstuffs. some pioneers overestimated the amount of goods they could haul on the long journey. as the oxen weakened under the strain, wagons were lightened by discarding prized possessions, including book collections, family china and furniture. in 1847, just east of the rocky mountains, the kimball family dug a large hole, wrapped their piano in buffalo skins and carefully buried it. an ox team retrieved the instrument the following spring and transported it to the salt lake valley.