> The Brazilian Navy has (...) in turn charged Mr. Marx with ''contraband'' of objects recovered from other wrecks in this country. (...) the Brazilian official

> The Brazilian Navy has (...) in turn charged Mr. Marx with ''contraband'' of objects recovered from other wrecks in this country. (...) the Brazilian officials showed a catalogue of an auction held in Amsterdam in 1983 in which, they said, gold coins, instruments and artifacts removed from shipwrecks in Brazil were offered for sale on behalf of Mr. Marx and his associates. > Several attempts to give Mr. Marx the opportunity to respond to these charges were unsuccessful. One phone call ended abruptly when Mr Marx said, ''Don't bother me,'' and then hung up. I have to side with the Brazilian government here, not because I think they're right (I don't know) but because their action will lead to the least harm. If Marx is right, and Brazil has its say, then the worst that can happen is that an archeological site will be buried in a known location for several decades until someone else will give another try. If Brazil is right, and Marx has his say, then the worst that can happen is that an irreplaceable archeological site will be plundered in haste with 20th century technology (which is, let's admit, not that great in digging up underwater ruins without destroying them), forever losing an opportunity to learn more about ancient Romans who made it to Brazil. Not all wonders have to be excavated in our own generation.