206 USE OF THE CORONA AND BLIND. 



3. The Sling rope, made of cord about the size of 

 clothes-line, twenty to thirty feet long, according 

 to the material to be packed ; its use is to sling 

 various packages, or casks, or boxes, in readiness 

 for lashing. 4. The Riata, a strong rope sixty 

 feet long, with which everything is securely 

 lashed; by an intricate but admirable arrange- 

 ment, this long rope, that has neither loop nor 

 knot, so fastens the load that a mule rolling down 

 a hillside can hardly displace it, a thing I have 

 seen happen more than once. 5. The Sweat- 

 cloth, a piece of canvas about four feet square, 

 that goes next the skin. 6. The Blankets, four 

 or five pieces, a little larger than the sweat-cloth. 

 7. The Corona, an embroidered cloth that goes 

 between the aparacjo and blankets. 



The packers know by the patterns embroidered 

 on it to which mule the aparacjos belong. A 

 blinder, to drop over the mule's eyes whilst being 

 saddled and packed, always carried by each 

 packer, also serves as a formidable whip, of which 

 the mules have a wholesome dread; laggers in a 

 train, unruly and careless ' mulos,' get switchings 

 with the blinder they do not readily forget. A 

 halter completes the equipment (technically 

 styled ' the rigging ') of a pack-mule. Each 

 packer has a riding-inule ; the cook always rides 



