Ily banded, often as many as thirteen bands encircling them. This is
partly because the long staple of this
variety of cotton must not be
injured by heavy pressure, and partly because they have not in India
the excellent facilities for compressing lint that we
have here. The Egyptian bales are the largest transported; they run as
high as seven hundred pounds and have about eleven bands
to hold them."
"It must be a stunt to get them aboard ship," grinned Carl. "I've
taken my turn at the job," responded the captain drily. "We swing them
down into the hold by means of cranes and have now learned to land
them quite
neatly. Nevertheless, even though they are only bundles of cotton wool
I should not fancy having one of them drop on my head," concluded
he with a twinkle. CHAPTER XI A FAMILY CONGRESS Meantime while
the McGregors discussed cott