MANUAL OF PACK TBANSPOETATION. 45 



over the first, holding the end of this cord between the points of the 

 second and third fingers; next take the third or last cord and bring 

 it under the first, if not already there, then over the second and 

 around the strands from right to left, its end passing into the eye 

 or loop of first cord, and draw each cord down separately until the 

 strands are firmly engaged by the coids. 



This operation leaves the strands standing upward and the cords 

 downward, the strands thus being held in the center; now pass each 

 cord from right to left as before, as in the operation of finishing the 

 splice for eye of lash rope. 



This latter method is preferred by packers as more durable, as it 

 will not become undone, and in similar manner is employed for the 

 free ends of the sling rope. 



The operation of preparing the lair rope is entirely similar to 

 that of the lash rope. 



Sec. 11. How to do up a lash rope. — Take hold of rope in the left 

 hand near the cincha or by the lacings; coil with right, receiving 

 coils in left hand; length of coils 24 inches. This operation is best 

 performed by keeping the left hand extended downward (this per- 

 mits of the cincha resting partly on the ground) ; now allow the right 

 hand to slip down the running rope at arm's length from left to right. 

 This operation will gauge the size or length of each coil (length of 

 coil 24 inches) and permit of rapid formation in coiling the rope as 

 well as a guide in giving an exact resulting length to each coil. The 

 action of the right hand in this operation is similar to that of a pen- 

 dulum of a clock, the left hand receiving the coils and the ground 

 partly supporting the cinch and coils as rendered. 



Take cincha in right hand, make one turn with it around the 

 coils, and pass the hook through the loop formed by the coils. Draw 

 the hook well up, causing the cincha to tighten snugly on the coils 



(t, fig. 1). 



Sec. 12. How to do up a sling rope. — Take a sling rope and bring 

 the ends together, grasp both parts in left hand about 20 inches from 

 ends; coil as in the case of lash rope. 



Take three turns of the loop around coils and pass the loop through 

 the coils, as in case of cincha hook; draw coils up snugly against 

 end. This should leave the loop out, not exceeding 4 inches; length 

 of coils 24 inches {vii, fig. 1). 



Sec. 13. How to do up a lair rope. — Take a lair rope by its eye, in 

 left hand; pass the end through the eye and draw through until a 

 coil of 24 inches is formed; hold and coil as in case of lash rope, 

 taking three turns of the end around coils. Pass the end through, as 

 in the case of cincha hook; draw coils snugly up, leaving not more 

 than 6 inches of end out {viii, fig. 1). 



LAIRING UP THE PACKS. 



Sec. 14. How to square ends of packs and tie hefore lairing up. — 

 By "lairing up" a pack, we mean wrapping it up in a manta, or pack 

 cover, to prevent damage to the pack during transportation. (See 

 fig. 6, etc.) 



When cargo is composed of sacks of flour, coffee, beans, rice, corn, 

 or oats, etc., it is necessary that the ends of packs be squared and 

 tied before "lairing up," 



