1 82 SUNSHINE AND SPORT IN 



because there is a fat monopoly of lighterage th 

 even the Americans have been unable to combe 

 Thus it is that Havana, one of the grande 

 harbours in the West Indies, has no more berthir 

 accommodation than a Cornish tidal port. 



The brief but pregnant halt at the Machii 

 (Customs) enables an official of subordinate static 

 to detain alike my rifle and my alligators. Tl 

 living contraband was immediately released by h 

 superior officer, but the rifle was firmly but gent 

 detained. The comic-opera Government instalk 

 in Cuba by the Americans is, as events have show 

 since I was in the island, unable to run the risk 

 imported rifles, and all such weapons are in coi 

 sequence strictly detained at the port of entr 

 Only— thanks to the help of Mr Griffith, H.B.JN 

 Vice-Consul at Havana, who gave me an intn 

 duction to the head of the Customs, a charmir 

 man, who spoke French, understood English, ar 

 finally took my word that I was proceeding dire 

 to Jamaica, via Santiago — was I able three da; 

 later to effect its release. As I explained to tl: 

 official in question, the rifle, only an inexpensi\ 

 sporting Winchester at best, had been in m 

 possession for ten years, so that its intrinsic vali 

 was not worth a moment's thought ; only, havin 

 never, in the whole course of our acquaintance, h 

 anything with it, I particularly desired to retain 

 on the chance of eventually putting it to i 

 legitimate use. He suggested grimly that thei 

 were many uses for rifles in his country, and tt 

 newspapers have since thrown new light on h 

 meaning. He also hinted that many people i 

 Havana would be happy to relieve me of it, an 



