J. C. Swan—Notes on a Voyage home from Africa in Winter 181


By a mistake in the bill of lading—which was not noticed until after

my departure from Africa, for abroad bills of lading are never issued

until after a vessel has left port—the birds, comprising the 44 cargo ”,

had been consigned to London. It was first argued that cargo for London

could not be landed at Southampton, and that if the steamer did land

the “ cargo ” the Customs would not clear cargo at night. Actually,

by this time the cases had been taken off the ship by a well-tipped

crew and were reposing with the rest of my personal luggage in the

Customs’ shed, but I was too interested in the argument that the

Customs’ officials were having with the steamer’s agent over clearing

cargo at night and landing same at ports other than to which shipped

to interrupt. When difficulties appeared to be insuperable I remarked

that all that appeared necessary was to assess any duty on the birds

along with the duty on my personal belongings (if any) and as far as the

steamship company was concerned all they required was a receipt

for the cargo—no matter what the port of discharge might be. Birds

are not dutiable, but a certificate of origin should accompany them if

they are to be exempt. My birds had accompanied me and I had a

passport, so I had not prepared a certificate of origin for the birds, as

I had taken for granted that it would be assumed that the birds had

come from the same port as I had embarked myself. But one travels

and learns. A deposit for the duty, returnable on production of the

certificate of origin, which, by the way, is a declaration on a specified

form by the shipper of merchandise (myself in this case), was at last

accepted and the special boat train which by this time had waited

twenty minutes for me (the last passenger) and my luggage got away

and the most dreaded part of the journey commenced.


Shortly after midnight I unpacked the cases in front of a warm fire,

to find to my great surprise all birds on their perches and looking none

the worse for the journey. Actually the few casualties occurred well

after my arrival in England, and were to a great extent my own

fault through allowing the housemaid to make up the fire in the bird-

room late at night—result, loss of two Sunbirds through fright and

concussion. Never rely upon a coal fire to maintain an even

temperature--an oil-stove will do it admirably, that is for those who

do not indulge in luxuries such as thermostatically controlled heating.



