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HISTORY OF SMUGGLING IN THE UK
The history of smuggling dates back to the Middle Ages and reached its peak in the reign of James I. Smuggling was easy because the customs officers were unable to cope with it adequately as on land they were far too few, and at sea, their ships were slow and less easy to handle. In addition, many of smugglers worked in large armed bands.
With the passing time, methods of smuggling were changing, and the smugglers no longer relied on large armed ships fighting their way through, handing over their contraband to armed gangs. Instead they sank their valuable goods near the shore, when the danger threatened, and picked them up later, or stored them in caves. When contraband was landed, it had to be hidden until it could be disposed of. Many of the old inns were very convenient for it.
The White Horse Inn at Gorleston, Norfolk, was the headquarters of a smuggling gang. Riding officer Hacon was appointed to that area, and he went straight to the White Horse and announced that he was going to put down smuggling with a firm hand.
Captain Legatt waged fifty guineas that he would deliver 100kg of smuggled tobacco at the officer’s house without his knowledge within fourteen days. Hacon accepted the challenge and put on extra guards. There was much interest among the town people.
Several days passed and nothing happened. Ships came and went, but there was no sign of tobacco.
Once a little schooner came in. Three men came ashore in a boat. Only one of them spoke a little English and it seemed that a man on the ship was very ill. The next day a message was sent ashore that the man was dead. A funeral procession was formed because the dead man had wished to be buried there.
Meanwhile the fourteenth day was drawing to a close. People were beginning to laugh at the smugglers. Then the Captain appeared and shook hands with Hacon.
“Well,” he said. “You owe me fifty guineas, I think.
“ The boot is on the other foot* ”, said Hacon with a smile.
“I think you’ll find the tobacco ready for you at home”, said Legatt. “That poor dead sailor who wished to be buried here – well, you go home and have a look – and keep the coffin as a small present”, and he roared with laughter.
* как раз наоборот
b) Make a glossary. Choose seven words to remember.
c) Answer the questions:
1. Why was smuggling easy at that time?
2. What difficulties did customs officers have?
3. What methods did smugglers use?
4. What arrangement was made between Officer Hacon and Captain Legatt?
5. How did Captain Legatt win fifty guineas?
* * *
Problem questions:
1. Have the methods of smuggling changed in any way since those times?
2. What modern methods of detecting contraband do you know?
Task 12. a) Complete the sentences with the following phrasal verbs:
| to rely on to cope with to hand over to pick up to put down |
1. This computer can __________ huge amount of data.
2. The violence was __________ by the police and the army.
3. Many people now __________ the Internet for news.
4. I’ll take my things to the Left Baggage Counter and _____ them _____ later.
5. The police officers were ordered to __________ their guns.
b) Make your own sentences with these phrasal verbs.
Task 13. a) Revise the grammar rules on Comparatives and Superlatives.
b) Copy out the adjectives from Text 2 and complete the table.
| Adjective | Comparative | Superlative |
| easy | easier | the easiest |
c) Write five sentences to compare the work of customs officers in the past and nowadays.
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