Furs, silks, clothing, and all things of that class are enveloped in repeated layers of oil cloth and canvas to exclude water and guard against abrasion.

Light articles, like bonnets, must be packed with abundance of paper filling them to their proper shape, and very securely boxed.

A Siberian lady once told me that a friend in St.
Petersburg sent her a lot of bonnets, laces, and other finery purchased at great expense.

She waited a long time with feminine anxiety, and was delighted when told her box was at the post office.
What was her disappointment to find the articles had been packed in a light case which was completely smashed.

She never made use of any part of its contents.
In crossing Siberian rivers the mail is sometimes wet, and it is a good precaution to make packages waterproof.