When the pack-cover is used, it is placed over the cargo before putting on the lash-rope.
When the side-packs are of unequal bulk or weight, the larger or heavier should be placed on the near side; it should then lap over the off-side pack until the packs balance.
Top Packs, i. e., small packages placed in the middle between the side packs, should be avoided.
When the sling-rope is half-hitched into the saddle-yokes the load is made more secure, but there is great danger of injury to the mule's back.
On the full-rigged saddle the canvas cincha is attached to the saddle by the "spider"; the side packs are laid on the saddle as before, held by the sling-straps and secured by the cargo-cincha. The lash-and sling-ropes are then dispensed with, but the use of the lash-and sling-ropes gives greater security to the cargo and greater comfort to the mule.
TO UNLOAD CARGO.
Only two men, Nos. 1 and 2, are necessary; they work as when loading.
The mule is placed with head toward the centre of where the cargoes are piled. No. 1 puts on the blind; No. 2 unfastens the free end of the lash-rope; then Nos. 1 and 2 slacken the rope; No. 2 with the left hand removes the part under the end and corners of the pad on the off side and unhooks the cincha with the right hand; No. 1 removes the part under the ends and corners of the pad on the near side, gathers the parts of the rope together on his side with both hands, coiling it, and lays the rope on the ground where he intends to place the cargo, the cincha and free end exposed on the side opposite where the rigging is to be placed; No. 1 unties the sling-rope, casts it loose, takes his side pack and places it on the lash-rope across the line of cargo; No. 2 at the same time takes his pack and lays it on top of near side pack, and then, holding the sling-rope at centre loop, doubles it and places it on top of load, loop exposed, for convenience when required.
The second load is placed end to end with the first and on the side next to where the rigging is to be placed; the end of the lash-rope is coiled and placed on top of the last sling-rope, and is used for tying the mule when reloading.
The saddle-cinchas should be slackened and the mules allowed to cool before removing the saddles.