returned. M. Edmond then had some private business conversation with him, and came to me directly, and with many apologies, told me that from information he had just received, it would be absolutely necessary for him to return to La Ceiba and prepare himself for an immediate start to Cumana; hoping at an early period to take me to his place. I expressed regret that our trip should be shortened, and with the trite remark that "business was business," and should be attended to, thanked him for the promised trip.

I said, I think, that the triangular island just at the confluence of the San Juan and Guarapiche, and the embouchure of these united rivers formed at each side a caña, one of which is Caña Frances. Just when we entered the caña an Indian put down his paddle and said, “escuche cairunes!" listen to the wild hogs! The corial was put ashore on the mainland, and M. Edmond with an Indian went with guns, while the other Indian, with his bow and arrow, and I were ordered to reconnoitre for the wild hogs that

might cross over the water and make for the island. We followed the sound of the wild hogs as well as we could, I of course agreeing with everything that my companion suggested or proposed. We heard four reports from the two guns, and presently there came the wild hogs, grunting and gnashing and plunging wildly into the water. There must have been at least twenty of them, large and small. We paddled in among them, and my companion knocked two on the head and took them in. I selected a rather small one, gave him a gentle tap just to take the breath out, and laid hold of him; but he gave me unmistakeable notice to quit my hold by showing his tusks; two or three effectual blows settled him, and I lifted him over. I don't know how experienced lion and gorilla hunters feel after a successful hunt, but I was exceedingly pleased at this my first and only success in wild hog hunting.

Our companions signalled us ashore, and we assisted in taking in five cairunes, one shot having killed two of them.

CHAPTER VI.

CONTRABAND.

WHEN I expressed the simple truism to M. Edmond that business was business, I was not aware that the male population of these parts consisted mainly of two divisions: one, the farmers and hunters as systematic smugglers; the other, paid officers of the government ostensibly protecting the revenue, but really coadjutors of the smugglers, aiding and abetting them by purposely appearing at the wrong place at the right time, or the right place at the wrong time.

Every merchant in Maturin and Cumana dealt in wholesale contraband; and when a gentleman and a don accepted the office and paltry pay of captain of the revenue guards (capitan de resguardos), it was understood that his fortune was to be made. A regular tariff was known to exist, stating the captain's share of the bribe, and the share of each

subaltern guard on duty for the day. The packages of merchandise destined for this trade were all of a size and weight to be carried conveniently, each by a man, through the bush, the stronger men sometimes taking two packs. They consisted chiefly of the costliest articles in linen, silks, boots, and cotton fabrics.

Sometimes a cargo was allowed to be properly reported and the duties paid.

For decency's sake, occasionally, a half-dozen bales of the least expensive articles, especially selected for the purpose, were allowed to be seized to evince the vigilance and fidelity of the officers.

The captains of smugglers were not always faithful to the understood arrangement. Whenever they could avoid the officers of customs they infringed the fundamental law of their class, "honour among thieves," by appropriating their own wages and the share pertaining to the guards, laughing at the powerless threats of those officers. With them honesty was only second best policy, and honour they knew only as a convenient word, as Shakspeare saith,

"The mere word's a slave,

Debauch'd on every tomb; on every grave,

A lying trophy; and as oft is dumb,

Where dust and damn'd oblivion, is the tomb
Of honour'd bones indeed."

I had the honour once of being for four days, sole travelling companion of Juan Pinado, at one time reputed the most daring and dangerous of smugglers, and professionally a fisherman. He was now a respectable "resguardo," revenue officer, and his chief work was to await about the embouchure and coasts, the expected return of the vessels, and in the interests of his confreres of the guards, more than of the government, prevent if possible, all independent smuggling.

Juan Pinado was a short thick-set Moreno (Indian and negro), very sun-burnt. He had a pleasant tone of voice. With the serio-comic manner which some old seamen possess, he could keep a company roaring with laughter, or with a quiet nonchalance make one's blood curdle with his relation of daring and bloody deeds of which he had been actor or spectator. Although I shall never forget this man, nor rid myself of the peculiar