make, first, that they might be permitted to return to their own country, or if that could not be granted, to die, he desired the interpreter to say that the Japanese were men and had hearts like other people, and that they had no reason either to fear or despair' he told them moreover, that they should have plenty of good provisions, and warm winter clothing together with bear skins to sleep on; and, that if it should turn out that they were not in any way connected with the proceedings of Chwostoff, they should all be sent back to Russia. These were not empty pro mises; for they found that their provisions were infinitely supe rior, both in quantity and quality, to what they had yet had; a so kind and attentive were all around them, that they ventured: ask for a window in the side wall of their jail to admit light a allow them to look out; this, however, was refused on the pl that the bleak north winds might injure their health; so careful deed were they in this respect, that a physician came twice a to visit them, and if any thing ailed any of the party, he general brought another with him. Their condition continued to impro.. and towards the end of the year the Bunyo condescended so t as to tell them that he believed they had no evil intentions in vist ing the coasts of Japan, and that he had sent a statement of t case to the Emperor at Yeddo, which he hoped would proces an order for their release.

The cords were now for the first time removed from their bodie and their cages knocked down; the floor was laid with plas and covered with mats, so that they had a spacious room to w in, and were at liberty to converse freely with each other. Th meals too were served up with neatness and decency. All the changes inspired them with lively hopes of soon regaining liberty and returning to Russia, when the arrival of the gover of Kunaschier put an end to all their flattering dreams; and w the exception of being caged, their treatment, if not so cru at first, was at least marked with equal indifference and conte Their old enemy, it seems, had procured fresh documents w in the minds of this jealous people, were supposed to impl them, as well as the Russian government, in the proceedings Chwostoff. It is perfectly astonishing how many trifling circ stances, utterly unconnected either with Chwostoff or Golowr were brought to bear on the supposed views of the Russian. vernment against Japan. The visit of Captain Broughton to of the Kurile islands was coupled with some insinuations of Dutch at Nangasaki respecting the sinister intentions of the E lish, and construed into a concerted plan with the Russians extend their power in the east; the renegade Dutchmen, resi in Japan, having assured them that England, acting by sea, Russia by kand, had, for their ultimate object, to divide China

dest

and.

Japan between them! This, they said, was corroborated by the recent appearance of an English frigate in the bay of Nan

*This was the Phaeton, of whose imprudent visit we gave some account in Number XII. p. 378. We learn, with deep regret, from recent information, that, for this act of indiscretion on the part of her commander, not only the innocent governor, but four other officers have since atoned with their lives, having been deemed criminal for the liberal supplies which they sent to the frigate, and for not having sunk her with the cannon of the fort! Among this singular people, an officer accused of an offence, if guilty of the charge, awaits not the issue of a trial, but if he would leave behind him an honourna able name, becomes his own executioner; and the unfortunate governor and his four coadjutors accordingly ripped up their bowels, which is esteemed the most honourable way of meeting death, Orders were issued at the same time to seize Englishmen had wherever they were to be found; and so exasperated was the government of Japan the against them on this account, that the interpreter told Golownin he had no doubt the crew of any English vessel arriving on the coast of Japan would be dealt with exactly as he and his companions had been.

To adu

fused?

th:

It appears, however, that they have not ventured to carry their threats into execution. We have now before ns the journal of a very intelligent and enterprizing officer, Captain Gordon of the navy, who, in June 1818, entered the bay of Jeddo in a little brig of sixty-five tons burden from Ochotzk. He was visited immediately by two officers whom, part from their great gravity, he supposed to be of high rank. He told them he had come un merely to obtain permission to return to them with a cargo of goods for sale. They said

a state

d from

sa

he must unship the rudder and allow it, with all the arms and ammunition, to be taken on shore. The vessel was then surrounded by a circle of about twenty small boats, and tbeyond them, by another, of about sixty larger guard and gun-boats, besides two or three juuks mounting a number of guns. After these judicious precautions against force, two interpreters came on board, one speaking Dutch, the other knowing something of pedRussian, and both a little English. They inquired if the vessel belonged to the East India Company, if the English were friends with the Dutch, and if Captain Golownin was at Ochotzk. They asked after the king of Holland, the king of France, and Buonaparte. They knew the names and uses of the various nautical instruments, and said that the best of these and other articles were made in London. In a subsequent visit they told Captain Gordon, that permission could not be granted for his trading to Japan, as by their laws all foreign intercourse was interdicted except at Nangasaki, and there only allowed with the Dutch and Chinese, and that the governor desired they would take dece their departure the moment the wind was fair. Captain Gordon offered the interpreters some trifling present, but they were prohibited, they said, from accepting it. Every thing that had been taken on shore was carefully returned, and about thirty boats were sent to tow the vessel out of the bay.

each ot

Soon

ival of

uppose

Captain Gordon speaks in high terms of the polite and affable conduct of the Japanese towards them and towards one another. The shores were crowded with spectators, ut, and as soon as the guard boats bad left them, not less than two thousand visitors came erence on board in succession, all eager to barter for trifles. Having no sheep, and warm clothsh doing being necessary in the winter months, Captain Gordon thinks that our woollen cloths would be particularly acceptable to them; and that with respect to cotton wool, piece goods, indigo and sugar, Bengal would be inadequate to the supply: he thinks the also that the mineral riches of Japan would furnish more than sufficient returns for such Ammense demands. We differ with Captain Gordon altogether on this point; for although we deem it a very unfortunate, and indeed a very culpable omission on our part, not to have endeavoured to open a more friendly intercourse with Japan, during many years in which we had the entire command of the whole oriental archipelago; we regret this, not so much because we lost the opportunity of extending our commerce, for we believe the wants of this people are few, and their superfluous produce neither great nor valuable,) as that we let slip the occasion of convincing this proud and jealous

woste

of

the

tain

Bwe

with

inten government that the few Dutchmeu, on whom they were long accustomed to trample,

are not the best specimen of Christian Europe.

nd, acts little narrative.

We cannot close this slight notice of Captain Gordon, without expressing our respect de Duor his character, and our satisfaction with the whole of his conduct as exemplified in

vessel, a young and handsome woman, the wife of our surgeon's mate. The Japanese lady seemed highly pleased, on being introduced to her, and they quickly formed an intimacy. Our countrywoman endeavoured to entertain the foreigner with what the women of all countries delight in; she shewed her her trinkets. Our visitor behaved with all the ease of a woman of fashion; she examined the ornaments with great curiosity, and expressed her admiration by an agreeable smile. But the fair complexion of our countrywoman seemed most of all to attract her attention. She passed her hands over her face, as though she suspected it had been painted, and, with a smile, exclaimed "yoce! yoce!" which signifies good. I observed, that our visitor was somewhat vain of her new ornaments, and I held a looking-glass before her, that she might see how they became her. The Russian lady placed herself immediately behind her, in order to shew her the difference of their complexions. She immediately pushed the glass aside, and good humouredly said "varee! varee!" (not good). She herself might have been called handsome; her face was of the oval form, her features regular, and her little mouth, when open, disclosed a set of shining black lacquered teeth. Her black eye-brows, which had the appearance of having been penciled, overarched a pair of sparkling dark eyes, which were by no means deeply seated. Her hair was black, and rolled up in the form of a turban, without any ornament, except a few small tortoise-shell combs. She was about the middle size, and elegantly formed. Her dress consisted of six wadded silk garments, similar to our night gowns; each fastened round the lower part of the waist by a separate band, and drawn close together from the girdle downwards. They were all of different colours, and the upper one was black. Her articulation was slow, and her voice soft. Her countenance was expressive and interesting, and she was altogether calculated to make a very agreeable impression. She could not be more than eighteen. We entertained her with fine green tea and sweetmeats, of which she eat and drank moderately. On taking leave I made her some presents, with which she appeared to be very much pleased. I hinted to our countrywoman, that she should embrace her. When the Japanese observed what was intended, she ran into her arms, and kissed her with a smile.'-pp. 261–263.

On the 11th September they left the bay and steered for Kamtschatka, where they landed on the 12th of the following month. The Japanese made himself exceedingly agreeable, set about learning the Russian language, and never once uttered a reproach on Captain Rikord, who had been, however reluctantly, the cause of his misfortunes; he said he perceived the finger of God in what had happened, and only hoped he should be able to stand the cold climate of Kamtschatka. In short, the whole conduct of this most interesting and worthy man was well calculated to command the attention and sympathy of the Russians of Kamtschatka; and their kindness made a deep impression on his mind in favour of a people whom he had hitherto been taught to dread.

Kachi continued tranquil and in good health until the middle of winter, when the death of two of his attendants greatly affected him he became melancholy, complained of indisposition, and told the surgeon he was certain he should die; his real disorder, however, was the home sickness,' which the preparations for departure speedily relieved. They arrived in Kunashier bay in June; but not a living being made its appearance along the whole line of coast. Kachi however ordered his two Japanese to carry a message to the governor of the island. Rikord asked him if he had directed them to bring back circumstantial information respecting his countrymen, and if he would pledge himself for their return to the ship?-he replied simply in the negative, which a little startled Captain Rikord, who in a moment of heat said to the two Japanese, Then tell the governor from me, if he prevents your returning, and permits me to receive no information, I will carry your chief back to Okotzk, where some ships of war will this very year be fitted out, and armed men put on board them, to demand the liberation of the Russian prisoners. I will wait only three days for his answer.'-This message, thus hastily given, developed the noble and energetic character of this extraordinary

man.

At these words Takaytay-Kachi changed countenance, but said, with much calmness,-" Čommander of the Imperial Ship," (he always addressed me thus on important occasions,) "thou counselest rashly. Thy orders to the Governor of Kunashier seem to contain much, but, according to our laws, they contain little. In vain dost thou threaten to carry me to Okotzk. My men may be detained on shore; but neither two nor yet two thousand sailors can answer for me. Wherefore, I give thee previous notice, that it will not be in thy power to take me to Okotzk:-but of that hereafter. But, tell me, whether it be under these conditions only that my sailors are to be sent on shore?".

"Yes," said I,

66

as Commander of a ship of war, I cannot, under these circumstances, act otherwise."

"Well," replied he; "allow me to give my sailors my last and most urgent instructions as to what they must communicate from me to the Governor of Kunashier, for now I will neither send the promised letter, nor any other written document."

'After this conversation, during which he sat, according to the Japanese custom, with his legs under him, he rose up, and addressed me very earnestly in the following terms:-" Thou knowest enough of Japanese to understand all that I may say, in plain and easy words, to my sailors. I would not wish that thou shouldst have any ground to suspect me of hatching base designs." He then sat down again, when his sailors approached him on their knees, and, hanging down their heads, listened with deep attention to his words. He then reminded them, circumstantially, of the day on which they were carried on board of the Diana; of the manner in which they had been treated on board

the

the ship and in Kamtschatka; of their having inhabited the same house with me, and being carefully provided for; of the death of their two countrymen and the Kurile, notwithstanding all the attention bestowed on them by the Russian physician; and, finally, that the ship bad hastily returned to Japan on account of his own health. All this he directed them faithfully to relate, and concluded with the warmest commendations of me, and earnest expressions of gratitude for the care which I had taken of him at sea and on land. He then sank into a deep silence, and prayed. Hereupon, he delivered to the sailor whom he most esteemed, his picture, to be conveyed to his wife; and his large sabre which he called his paternal sword, to be presented to his only son and heir. After the whole of this solemn ceremony was finished, he stood up, and with a frank and, indeed, a very cheerful expression of countenance, asked me for some brandy to treat his sailors at parting. He drank with them, and accompanied them on deck without giving them any further charge.-We then landed them, and they proceeded, without interruption, towards the fortress.

All that passed between Kachi and the sailors who were separated from him, together with the significant words-" It will not be in thy power to take me to Okotzk," gave me much anxiety. The return of the sailors appeared to be very uncertain. I could retain their sick master as a hostage, but I could not prevent his rash speech from being realised. Whether I should put him ashore was a matter of difficult deliberation, and yet, all circumstances considered, that appeared to me the course likely to prove most beneficial to our imprisoned comrades. In case he should not return, I resolved to proceed immediately to the fortress. I knew enough of Japanese to make myself understood, and I thought, if our companions were still alive, such a proceeding could not render their fate worse; while, in case they were dead, the whole affair, together with all my anxieties, would be speedily brought to a decision. I communicated my ideas to the senior of my officers, as it was necessary for the service to give him early information, in consequence of the execution of some duties remaining yet incomplete. As he concurred with me in opinion, I told Kachi, that he might go on shore as soon as he pleased, and that I would trust to his honour for his return. If he did not come again it would cost me my life.

6.66

"“I understand,” answered he. "Thou darest not return to Okotzk without a written testimonial of the fate of thy countrymen; and, for my part, the slightest stain on my honour will be at the expense of my life. I thank you for the confidence placed in me; I had before resolved not to go on shore on the same day with my sailors; that would not become me, according to our customs: but now, since thou hast no objection, I will go ashore early to-morrow."

"I will convey you thither myself," answered I. "Then," he exclaimed, with transport, we are friends again! I will now tell thee what I meant by sending away my portrait and my paternal sword. But I must first confess, with that candour which I have invariably observed towards thee for the space of three hundred days, that I was much offended by thy message to the Governor of Kunashier. The

menace