Smuggling. 183 



addition to the available natural caves, artificial places 

 of concealment, " capable of containing from sixty to 

 two or three hundred tubs of gin," were constructed 

 where necessary, by digging deep down into the soft 

 earth or sand, and forming a pit with bricks or planks 

 of wood. These pits, which were covered over to 

 the depth of several feet, in order to be safe from the 

 searchings of the excisemen, were exactly measured 

 off, from some conspicuous point, so that the precise 

 spot could be ascertained, and the pit opened, as re- 

 quired, even on the darkest night. 



When one of the smuggling luggers had arrived off 

 the coast, the skipper would run pretty close in shore, 

 during daylight, and exhibit preconcerted signals to 

 some of those on the outlook in the neighbourhood. 

 Satisfied that his movements were understood, he then 

 hauled off again, and stood out to sea in an indefinite sort 

 of way. Meanwhile, the news spread for miles around. 

 A primitive system of telegraphing, sufficiently intelli- 

 gible to the initiated, had been established ; as, for 

 example, by spreading a plaid or blanket out, as if to 

 dry, on the top of the peat stack. Messages, in cant 

 phraseology, were sent from hamlet to hamlet, by 

 children, if need were, there being no risk of their 

 indiscreetly communicating what outsiders would not 

 understand, even when they heard it. And then, 

 by night-fall, there was a silent but rapid and 

 watchful muster about the point where the signalling 

 lugger was expected to approach; and, in all probability, 

 a busy night followed at the landing, and concealment 

 of her freight, in the safety of which all those taking 

 part were, to a greater or less extent, directly con- 

 cerned. The time when coast smuggling seems to 

 have been carried on most extensively, was in the 

 years between 1660 and 1680; the profits attending 

 the successful prosecution of the business tempting 

 many to engage in it. It was by and by seen, how- 

 ever, by those who had a stake in the country, and 



