Page 29 - Round_the_World_with_BJ_1926
P. 29
Introductory xxiii
A t Port Said we w ere dumped into little skiffs, w hile a policeman
stood guard and advised the passengers which to take and which not.
T h e natives stand there and try to grab you, then take you out in the
middle of the river and threaten you if you don’t come across w ith some
exorbitant fee.
Po rt Said w as undoubtedly the most w ild , but N e w Y o r k w as the
most desired, harbor of all. T h e Statue of L ib erty certainly does look
m ighty good to every A m erican.
I f your steamer is anchored out in the harbor, or in the river, and you
go to town in the evening, when you come back to the boat at night
don’t take ju st anybody who comes along w ith a boat and offers to
ferry you across for a few coppers. H e w ill more than likely take you
out in the river, hold you up or knock you on the head, d row n you,
and that is the end of that trip. Steamship companies alw ays provide
regular fe rry service w ith reliable steamers between ship and shore.
W a it for these.
Everybody must pass medical inspection at every port where they
land and passengers are going ashore. T h is is u sually a line-up and they
may look at your hands and face. N o covering of either is usually
permitted. Y o u r passports are then inspected and some sort of iden
tification is given you w hich is taken up as you go ashore. T h e most
inquisitive of any and all is the Japanese G overnm ent. T h e y w a n t to
know who you are, your business, where you come from , where you
go, how long you are going to stay, w h at you are going to do here, where
do you leave the country and when, etc. A n d they fo llo w you thru
their special police system to see that you do it. D u rin g your absence
at hotels, it w ill not be surprising to return and find that everything
has been^ransacked and laid ca re fu lly back to try and deceive you of that
fact. T h e y w ant to know !
In all the large ports you are given a slip to fill out. O n this they
ask how m any pieces of baggage you are going to take off. Y o u must
state the number of hand bags and trunks. Y o u are then given
lettered slips “ P ,” which are pasted on each piece. W hen the baggage
is taken off, it is placed w ith that letter. Y o u go there, get it all to
gether, and then customs comes and inspects your baggage and passes
you w ith a chalk m ark w hich shows it is ready to be released, a fter which
you can carry away your property.
^ V e ry little trouble is given the ord inary traveler. T h e y know he is
traveling. They know he buys and takes home certain trinkets. T h e y
pass most of these w ith little trouble. B ut, the most careful govern
ment is the U . S. D o n ’t try to sm uggle in the slightest thing regardless
o T h e y 11 catch you at it sure. T h e y have spotters, profes
sional shoppers, in every im portant city of Europe. T h e y are checking
daily on buyers. T h e y fo llo w purchasers thru and see if you declare
them. •
T h e w rite r bought some m arble in Florence. O ne month a fter we
arrived home, we received a letter asking us w hat piece of baggage we
A t Port Said we w ere dumped into little skiffs, w hile a policeman
stood guard and advised the passengers which to take and which not.
T h e natives stand there and try to grab you, then take you out in the
middle of the river and threaten you if you don’t come across w ith some
exorbitant fee.
Po rt Said w as undoubtedly the most w ild , but N e w Y o r k w as the
most desired, harbor of all. T h e Statue of L ib erty certainly does look
m ighty good to every A m erican.
I f your steamer is anchored out in the harbor, or in the river, and you
go to town in the evening, when you come back to the boat at night
don’t take ju st anybody who comes along w ith a boat and offers to
ferry you across for a few coppers. H e w ill more than likely take you
out in the river, hold you up or knock you on the head, d row n you,
and that is the end of that trip. Steamship companies alw ays provide
regular fe rry service w ith reliable steamers between ship and shore.
W a it for these.
Everybody must pass medical inspection at every port where they
land and passengers are going ashore. T h is is u sually a line-up and they
may look at your hands and face. N o covering of either is usually
permitted. Y o u r passports are then inspected and some sort of iden
tification is given you w hich is taken up as you go ashore. T h e most
inquisitive of any and all is the Japanese G overnm ent. T h e y w a n t to
know who you are, your business, where you come from , where you
go, how long you are going to stay, w h at you are going to do here, where
do you leave the country and when, etc. A n d they fo llo w you thru
their special police system to see that you do it. D u rin g your absence
at hotels, it w ill not be surprising to return and find that everything
has been^ransacked and laid ca re fu lly back to try and deceive you of that
fact. T h e y w ant to know !
In all the large ports you are given a slip to fill out. O n this they
ask how m any pieces of baggage you are going to take off. Y o u must
state the number of hand bags and trunks. Y o u are then given
lettered slips “ P ,” which are pasted on each piece. W hen the baggage
is taken off, it is placed w ith that letter. Y o u go there, get it all to
gether, and then customs comes and inspects your baggage and passes
you w ith a chalk m ark w hich shows it is ready to be released, a fter which
you can carry away your property.
^ V e ry little trouble is given the ord inary traveler. T h e y know he is
traveling. They know he buys and takes home certain trinkets. T h e y
pass most of these w ith little trouble. B ut, the most careful govern
ment is the U . S. D o n ’t try to sm uggle in the slightest thing regardless
o T h e y 11 catch you at it sure. T h e y have spotters, profes
sional shoppers, in every im portant city of Europe. T h e y are checking
daily on buyers. T h e y fo llo w purchasers thru and see if you declare
them. •
T h e w rite r bought some m arble in Florence. O ne month a fter we
arrived home, we received a letter asking us w hat piece of baggage we
