Королі та капуста
The Lotus and the Bottle
Byreasonoflongpracticehegaugedhisstrollsoaccuratelythatbythetimehearrivedonthesandyshoretheboatofthecustomsofficialswasrowingbackfromthesteamer,whichhadbeenboardedandinspectedaccordingtothelawsofAnchuria.
ThereisnoharbouratCoralio.VesselsofthedraughtoftheValhallamustrideatanchoramilefromshore.Whentheytakeonfruititisconveyedonlightersandfreightersloops.AtSolitas,wheretherewasafineharbour,shipsofmanykindsweretobeseen,butintheroadsteadoffCoralioscarcelyanysavethefruiterspaused.Nowandthenatrampcoaster,oramysteriousbrigfromSpain,orasaucyFrenchbarquewouldhanginnocentlyforafewdaysintheoffing.Thenthecustom-housecrewwouldbecomedoublyvigilantandwary.Atnightaslooportwowouldbemakingstrangetripsinandoutalongtheshore;andinthemorningthestockofThree–StarHennessey,winesanddrygoodsinCoraliowouldbefoundvastlyincreased.Ithasalsobeensaidthatthecustomsofficialsjingledmoresilverinthepocketsoftheirred-stripedtrousers,andthattherecordbooksshowednoincreaseinimportdutiesreceived.
ThecustomsboatandtheValhallagigreachedtheshoreatthesametime.Whentheygroundedintheshallowwatertherewasstillfiveyardsofrollingsurfbetweenthemanddrysand.Thenhalf-clothedCaribsdashedintothewater,andbroughtinontheirbackstheValhalla’spurserandthelittlenativeofficialsintheircottonundershirts,bluetrouserswithredstripes,andflappingstrawhats.
