john8417 |
Posted: Tue 17:49, 15 Feb 2011 Post subject: On the Makaloa Mat LondonJack Published bbaahaph |
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ofarastosuggestthattheconfiscatedvesselbecon-
vertedtotheuseofthegovernment.Theprizewasthefirstcaptureto
thecreditofthedepartmentintenyears.Thecollectortookopportunity
to pat his department on the back.
70
Itoftenhappenedthatgovernmentofficersrequiredtransportation
frompointtopointalongthecoastandmeanswereusuallylacking.
Furthermorethesloopcouldbemannedbyaloyalcrewandemployed
asacoastguardtodiscouragetheperniciousartofsmuggling.Thecol-
lectoralsoventuredtonominateonetowhomthechargeoftheboat
couldbesafelyintrusted—ayoungmanofCoralioFelipeCarrera—not
beitunderstoodoneofextremewisdombutloyalandthebestsailor
along the coast.
ItwasuponthishintthattheMinisterofWaractedexecutingarare
piece of drollery that so enlivened the tedium of executive session.
Intheconstitutionofthissmallmaritimebananarepublicwasafor-
gottensectionthatprovidedforthemaintenanceofanavy.Thisprovi-
sion—withmanyotherwiserones—hadlaininertsincetheestablish-
mentoftherepublic.Anchuriahadnonavyandhadnouseforone.It
wascharacteristicofDonSabas—amanatoncemerrylearnedwhimsic-
alandaudacious—thatheshouldhavedisturbedthedustofthismusty
andsleepingstatutetoincreasethehumouroftheworldbysomuchasa
smile from his ind laboutin shoes outlet |
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