The new North-west., 1888-09-28

was nothing extraordinary about the fact,
as all Orientals are great lovers of fruit and
vegetables, and buy them in the most liberal
manner. The officer having satisfied himself
that the would be visitor was acting in good
faith, allowed tho peddler to 20 on board,
but not being certain of his purpose watched
him carefully. Tho peddler sold most of his
fruit and was beginning to dicker about a
can Of tomatoes, when one of the crew play
fully knocked his hat over his eyes aud pre-
tended to steal the basket. The enraged
peddler struck at the man nearest to him,
and in moment lively row was in full
progress. 1t was soon over, and resulted in
tho peddler, hatless, bloody and torn, being
thrown down the gang plank to the wharf.
Tho officer, q large muscular man, sympa-
thized with the victim, and gladly volun-
teered to protect him and get back his hat,
basket and tomatoes from the grinning crew.
Tho two ascended to tho deck, whereupon
the latter, as if fearful Of tho official, dis
persed, most of them retreating to the fore
CASTLE The hat, basket and unsold fruit were
speedily recovered, but the canned tomatoes
remained invisible. Only by threatening to
arrest all present and send them to jail did
the officer succeed in inducing the reluctant
seamen to restore the booty they had cap
tured from the peddler. The latter stood
scowling, as the cans were handed back, ard
checked them one by one, till all were re-
turned. When the lot had been restored, he
grasped the inspectors hand and warmly
shook it, exclaiming: "You velly good gen
nelmeni you like smoker Upon the officers
saying that he was devotee Of the weed. tie
peddler pulled half dozen Havanas from
some mysterious recess in his blouse, and
handed them to his benefactor. Then as he
was about to leave the ship, he turned and
cursed the crew in the widest burst Of pro-
family that the English, Chinese and Malay
languages allow. The inspector accompanied
him to the street, and saw him safely on
board horse car.
Two days afterwards one of the mates
found in O dark corner Of the forecastle two
dozen cdd fresh cans of tomatoes. As these
were never used OH board of the vessel, his
curiosity was excited, and thorough search
Of the place was made. Nothing was found,
however, but en- opened tomato can which
contained small quantity Of opium pre-
pared for smoking, but which had previously
been full of that drug to the very brim. The
inspector who had witnessed the search sud-
denly saw that he had been duped The
guileiess peddler had brought on genuine
canned tomatoes The peddling, row and
theft was simply clever dodge, under the
cover of which the parties who were in col
fusion with him had concealed the cans of
tomatoes, and when compelled to disgorge
had substituted tomato cans filed with pre-
pared opium. The peddler had succeeded
In passing at least fifty pounds of tho mar
cotic without paying duty under the very
eyes of the law, and had probably cleared a
profit of at least $500 by the transaction.
The inspector did everything in his power to
lay his hands upon the rogue and the opium,
but never succeeded in getting the slightest
trace Of either.
Description of the stiletto.
The stiletto is a peculiar weapon. There is
nothing of American manufacture like it. In
length it runs from six to fifteen inches. The
blade is about twice the length Of the handle,
dagger edged thick at the narrow guard and
tapering of to excessive thinness at the point.
At the guard the diameter of the blade is dia-
mond shaped, and the two extra edges run
almost to the point.
The real edges, which are razor sharp,
make wound which the auxiliary edges,
more blunt than sharp, aggravate to terri
bic degree. So effective is it and so murder
GUS in the hands of dexterous man that the
Italian government has recently been ex-
perimenting with it az a weapon at close
quarters, and in the Massowah campaign
several companies were armed with shields
and long stilettos. The weapon is carried in
2 sheath like on ordinary dagger.-New
York Graphic