The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-12
MUSIC HAHN CHARMs-
How = Ships Cspt.i. soothsd 80 Ahiesr
Cu,tor-s Omeer's Ear 70 Some Purpose.

Cu,tor-s Omeer's Ear 70 Some Purpose.
The duty on plug tobacco which cost 25
cents q pound In this country was at one time
rs cents q pound in the Portuguese possess
sions along the west coast OF Africa. The
natives were fond OF chewing. and the high
impost tax was therefore q great inducement
to smuggling. The American ships which
traded with the west coast almost always car
ried several tons Of plug tobacco along with the
general cargo. and the shippers usually made an
attempt to get the tobacco ashore free OF duty.
90 as to make the 200 or 800 per cent profit
assured II they were successful. Smuggling
became so frequent. however. that the customs
authorities finally placed an oficer on each
ship as soon as 1t entered the harbor. and no
goods could be landed hy the skipper without
the permission OF this Portuguese negro Gus
toms inspector.
This vigilance interfersd somewhat with the
smuggling. as It was not always that the officer
could be bribed.
An American sea Captain tells the following
story OF how he smuggled several tons OF
tobacco into the country in spite Of the pres
ence OF an officer on his ship. He had been
lying off q small town in the Gambia River for
several days and had landed . good part OF his
cargo in the legitimate way. He had about six
tons OF plug tobacco. but he preferred to take
1t back to America rather than to pay the re-
uuired duty OF 10 cents a pound.
The afternoon before he intended to sail q
coasting schooner came into the river. and
shortly afterward the trader in charge boarded
tho American and asked the skipper II he had
any plug tobacco.
About six tons" answered the skipper.
IN sell II to you for 80 cents q pound"
The trnder reflected a. while. and fnal ly
% cents sSard os tho tobacco de-
The Am srican said he would do his host to
circumvent the watchfulness Of the customs
officer on board during the evening.
There was another American trading vessel
in the river. and the skipper rowed over TO his
him out. On board this last vessel were sew
eral m usical boxes. and the Captain was bring
as Of n
whom he was under obligations.
How much do those musical boxes cost ?"
but / have not brought them over here to
sen! Sell me S S1e said the captain Who owned
the tobacco; :. have particular use for 1t;
After little demurrine the other agreed to
the trade. and q half hour later the would-be
~ Gpan ISs
Suwanee hiver."
gsS sns I'LL IL: es 70 the sss sP ss
Hello" said the Captain as the ofiioer came
'nsI what Via f is thatR" asked the negro. as he
Eazed in wonder at the box and heard the
This is a musical box" answered the skip
per, and n. told tho negro to turn the crank
never seen anything like 1t before. and was
amazed at the wonderful machine His nkst
question was: -,
$500" answered the skipper.
The negro rubbed his head and looked dis
appointed. for he knew he could never own .
m@i'sai e SG1 play on
aset e give my orders or The night on
. As soon as the Captain was out OF the cabin
Ssee eS wa. IN eonvsnsnt piaee The ,n mate
said IL was in the main hatch and near the top
shi stand y Sb e. Their
put it aboard the schooner. As long. as you
hf Ths .1 Captain Went below and Ii his pipe
Fine" snswersd the customs of fi.''
Well. i would not be much good over
sea S ladies could mot play on It longer than
49, N9pssnss," said the negro. Il could grind
ter sal. i'd the capiaip. ths! you ean't grind 2Hind
f e HG nesf T is%psS The bait. ana put.
quarter eIeitedly on the table and vowed that |
the white man could not draw back from the |
The CaPtSin laughed and said he had no
the tine and told Ii. Oilc.r to 20 ahead n TOOK
The sailors above heard the notes In the |
cabin. aud they worked with will; In three |
quarters OF an hour they had made two trips |
TO the schooner and had discharged the entire |
slx tons OF tobacco. The mate then stroiIed |
Into the, Rbin and nodded to tho skipper that |
II was all right.
For heavens sake. stop that grindingl"
shouted the Captain to the negro. You are |
driving me crazy. I'll give you the machine II |
YOU stop grindingl
, The ofiesT laughed and ceased his turning.
Why, could do that all night" he said.
The next morning when his relief came |
aboard. the negro was rowed ashore holding |
the musical box on his lap, and no suspicion |
came across his mind as he glanced at the |
little coastinR schooner filling away mile or |
so below with her nose pointed seward.