PACKING AND SHIPPING 327 
clouds, to Guaqui, where after being put 
ashore they were again examined by the Boliv 
ian customs officials. They were next placed 
on the train which took them across the wind 
swept plateaus of Bolivia, to the edge of the 
tea-cup rim, at the bottom of which La Paz 
is situated. Here again they were transferred, 
this time to an electric train which took them 
down the face of the canyon wall, 1300 feet, 
to the station at the outskirts of La Paz. At 
this point Indian cargadores took the cases, 
one at a time, on their backs and carried them 
to the merchant’s warehouse, where they were 
again opened, and checked up, after which 
they were repacked and sent on into the in 
terior towns, mining camps and his branch 
stores, via llama, burro and mule. 
In this shipment there was nothing unusual. 
It went over the route commonly selected and 
took about the average length of time. If 
you have followed its many handlings by 
rough men, in all kinds of weather, you will 
admit at once the necessity for strong packing