Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 1.djvu/233

 (bandes noires). Some constables sent to Paris, and with whom I was associated in an affair, assured me that in one night there had been carried off from various vessels as much as twenty hogsheads of sugar, and also of rum drawn of by means of a pump, called a jigger, and which was conveyed away in bladders. The ships, on board which this traffic is carried, were called "game ships" (vaisseaux à gibier). At this period, the robberies of liquors and spirits were, besides, very common, even in the royal navy. A very remarkable instance occurred on board the Victory, which brought to England the dead body of Nelson, killed, as we know, at the battle of Trafalgar. To preserve the remains, they were put into a puncheon of rum. On reaching Plymouth, the puncheon on being opened was entirely empty and dry. During the voyage, the sailors, very certain that the purser would not visit this cask, had drank up all the rum by straw pipes, or jiggers. They called this "tapping the admiral" (mettre l'amiral en perce).

The game boatmen are on board vessels unloading their cargoes, and receive, and instantly carry off, all stolen goods. As they are the parties who treat with the receivers, they make a profitable business of it; and spend a great deal of money. I heard of one who, from the fruits of his industry, kept a very elegant woman, and a saddle horse.

By mud-larks, are meant those men who grope about on the shores at low tide, under the bottoms of vessels, pretending to look for old pieces of cord, iron, coals, &c., but in fact to receive and conceal various articles thrown over to them.

The scuffle-hunters, are workmen with long aprons, who pretend to ask for work, go in a body on shipboard, and find opportunities of 'prigging' something during the confusion.

Last of all are the receivers, who not content with buying all that the thieves bring to them, sometimes have understandings with the captain, or some of the crew, whom they find out to be not indisposed to deal