A GOOD SMUGGLING STORY.

Southland Times, Issue 1677, 17 December 1872, Page 3

A GOOD SMUGGLING STORY.

On the Belgian frontier the French smugglers are doiDg a prosperous business. Some time ago, information was 1 given to the custom-house authorities that at a certain hour a waggon load of straw would pass in a certain direction, amongst which a quantity of tobacco would be concealed. The waggon arrived at the time and place indicated, and was Btopped by the custom-house officers. In reply to their questions, the waggoner answered in an evasive and unsatisfactory manner, which created suspicion, and a strict examination was commenced. It was ascertained that the wood was solid, and that there was no double bottom to the waggon, and therefore the tobacco must be in the bundles of straw, which the custom-house officers commenced probing with their long skewers, without coining in contact with anything which felt like a bale of tobacco ; they therefore decided upon unloading the waggon and examining the straw, bundle by bundle. When they were in the midst of this operation, a funeral came up, preceded by little boys carrying incente, tapers, and a cross, and the priest chanting psalms, accompanied by the sound of the serpent. The employers hastened to make room for the funeral to pass, and remained uncovered until it did so, when they set to work again, undoing the bundles of straw, and examining them one by one. Whilst this was going on, the hearse and funeral was continuing its route ; but had been long out of sight before the waggon had been thoroughly searched, and the bundles of straw tied up and reloaded, and — to the disappointment of the custom-house officers — not an ounce of tobacco found. The waggon at length was allowed to continue its route, but was followed at a distance, in order to discover the secret which appeared to be concealed from them. But there being nothing to conceal, they discovered nothing till the following day, when all the tobacco had been disposea of and the smugglers were out of reach. The funeral cortege was composed entirely of smugglers; the priest, the player of the serpent, the incense boys, and all the cortege, were a band of smugglers, and were laden with tobacco, as well as hearse and coffin. The value of the tobacco thus entered is stated at £BCOO, but this is probably greatly exaggerated.