PACKING  AND  SHIPPING  327

clouds,  to  Guaqui,  where  after  being  put
ashore  they  were  again  examined  by  the  Bolivian ­
  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  interior ­
  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