Heave, heave, heave! around the capstan,
Up with the anchor with a will;
For the "Duke," you may rely,
Will be home by next July,
If you'll only put old _Tom Lee_ to the wheel.
THE SECOND CRUISE OF THE CHINA SQUADRON.--PRINCIPALLY
CONCERNING A VISIT TO THE LOO-CHOO ISLES AND COREA.--
WELCOME NEWS FROM HOME.--CONCLUSION.
Before starting for the north, suppose we just glance at a few of the
leading events which transpired at the beginning of the year. The flying
squadron has sailed after having awaited the return of the "Inconstant"
from docking at Nagasaki.
The arrival of the yacht "Wanderer" must also be noted; for Mr. Lambert,
her princely owner, gave a magnificent cup worth 200 dollars as a prize
to be sailed for by the boats of the men-of-war in harbour. It was borne
off by the French admiral's barge.
In stripping our yards serious defects were discovered in the fore and
main, necessitating the replacing of the latter by a new one, and the
splicing of the former. Whilst awaiting these repairs the admiral
hurried us off, stripped as we were, up the Canton river to a bleak open
spot above the Bogue forts. The scenery of the river is flat and
uninviting, but eminently characteristic. Almost every hill has its
pagoda at the top, every bank that peculiar fishing apparatus--a lever
net, and the river is swarming with great lumbering junks, not a few of
which, if rumour speak correctly, engaged in piracy.
On the way up we obtained a fine view of the Bogue forts. The old ruins
still remain, mute witnesses of the completeness of our cannonade during
the Chinese war. At a short distance from the old, a much stronger and
more formidable structure is reared, which in the hands of Europeans
would form an almost impassable barrier. In addition to the large fort,
two small islands off in the river are also strongly fortified with
eighteen-ton guns.
Ten days--such was the term of our banishment. Economically considered,
I suppose it was all right; no doubt the fresh water of the river
succeeded in removing the saline incrustations from our bottom. One of
the home papers, more sensationally than truthfully, remarked that our
ship's company were all such a disreputable, boosing set, and proved
themselves so reckless and recalcitrant when on shore, that the admiral
took this means of punishing us. Now I call this a gross libel on the
ship's company at large. To speak honestly, I don't believe the admiral
did send us here for such a purpose, nor do I believe we are one whit
worse than those who stigmatize our characters in so wholesale and
careless a manner.
Next in order of events comes the admiral's inspection--searching, of
course, as all his inspections are known to be. He has a curious knack
of catching people on what, in lower-deck phrase, is styled the
"ground-hop," and generally succeeds, by his rapid and pertinent
questions, in putting people into such utter confusion of ideas that
negatives and affirmatives are bundled out indiscriminately, if indeed
the mouth can be induced to open itself at all, or to frame any speech.
However, in one department, at least, he got as good as he gave. Whilst
visiting the magazine he suddenly gave the order, "fire on the flat!"
The gunner's mate in charge of the magazine, whom we will call "Topper,"
immediately closed the hatch and stood on guard over it. Turning around,
the admiral said "I want to go into the magazine;" but observing that
"Topper" still stood motionless, he again repeated the order. "You
can't, sir," was the rejoinder, "because there is fire in the flat."
"Oh! very well," replied the admiral, "cease fire!" With great
promptitude and despatch the hatch was removed, and the admiral prepared
to descend, but was once more checked, and was informed that if he
complied with the magazine regulations, and left his shoes and sword
behind, he might do so. He fared no better down below, I believe, and
left the magazine perfectly satisfied with the conduct of affairs in
that region.
A few days before sailing, a suggestion made by Mr. Robinson, the
officer whose kindnesses I have had occasion to note before, met with
universal favor. For a very small sum each man, a telegram was sent to
Mr. R----'s agent in London, in the following words--"When will
'Audacious' commission, and probably sail?" For three days nothing else
was spoken of, and various were the speculations as to the answer. It
came--"Early September." Very short, but to the point, though to some
rather ambiguous. To which did the answer refer, the _commissioning_, or
the _sailing_? Reason implied the former, as, knowing it, the latter
might be inferred. A subsequent telegram set the matter at rest.
April 19th.--After a more than ordinarily long stay at Hong Kong, to-day
sees us clearing out of the harbour on our projected summer cruise. The
following ships besides ourselves comprised the squadron--"Curaçoa,"
"Encounter," "Albatross," "Swift," "Daring," and "Foxhound," with the
"Vigilant" and "Zephyr," which accompanied us out of the harbour. On
parting company with the admiral we shaped course for Manilla, the
admiral being specially careful to give Captain Tracey injunctions not
to forget to bring him 2,000 cigars from that place. We were then
sailing under sealed orders.
April 24th.--This morning, having sent the "Swift" back to Hong Kong,
the sealed orders were opened, and, to the surprise of everybody--to the
captain's not less than to our own--we were not to go to Manilla at all!
This in the face of what the admiral said to the captain! Well, up helm,
and away we go for Loo-Choo; it does not signify much where we go for
the next six or eight months, I suppose.
April 25th.--_Caught our first shark._ Yes; one out of the many scores
in the vicinity actually meditated an attack on our four-pound piece.
However he discovered, to his cost, that a barbed hook is no easy matter
to digest. He was landed inboard in a trice, and handed over to the
tender mercies of the forecastle hands. Now it was a most unfortunate
thing for that shark that one of these same _tender_ hands had, that
very morning, lost a "hook pot" of fish off the range, through the kind
services of some obliging shipmate. Hence revenge was the dominant
feeling in that man's breast. Electing himself butcher-in-chief,
sharko's spirit was soon gathered to his fathers.
A most devilish contrivance--torpedo, electric wire, and all
complete--was invented by our torpedo officer for the accommodation of
the next friendly shark. With this little affair safely stowed within
his stomach, he would find his internal arrangements subject to sudden
and unaccountable tension. Enough this to make the shark parliament pass
a bill condemning all illicit grabbing.
April 20th.--Off the east of Formosa, and during the middle watch, the
ships of the squadron were caught aback in a sudden squall. There was a
deuce of a commotion up aloft, sails flapping and splitting, ropes
cracking, and blocks rattling till further orders. To establish order
amongst these refractory things the hands were called. Next day the wind
crept ahead and gradually freshened to what looked and felt extremely
like a gale. The poor little "Foxhound" had a lively time of it, and
proved herself unequal to such a buffetting. The "Curaçoa" was signalled
to take her in tow, and the two fell rapidly astern, and finally
disappeared, to rejoin us about the third day afterwards. On May first
the "Daring" parted company for Napa, the capital of Great Loo-Choo, our
destination being Little Loo-Choo.
May 3rd.--I don't know if we do, but sailors ought to feel it a great
privilege that they are enabled to see all the wonderful and varied
sights so constantly surrounding them--the many countries and people
they come in contact with. Of all strange, out of the way, scarce heard
of places, perhaps, Loo-Choo has been less subject to the visits of
vandals from Europe than any. If I am correctly informed it is now close
on thirty years since a ship of war put in to Little Loo-Choo, and
certainly never before such a squadron as the present.
But two visits of consequence have taken place during the present
century; that of Captain Maxwell in the "Alceste," in 1817; and that of
Commodore Perry, of the U.S. navy, in 1853; so that the little we do
know of this _ultima thule_ is derivable from these sources. Strangely
enough, the two accounts are broadly opposed to each other. Captain
Maxwell found the people gentle, simple, and courteous; possessed of no
money, no arms, without police, or punishments; whilst the land, he
said, was an earthly paradise. I have in my possession an old print
entitled "the voyage of the 'Alceste,'" written by the surgeon of that
ship; and that part of it which refers to this visit is most pleasurable
reading. The commodore, on the other hand, endeavours to shew many of
Captain Maxwell's eulogies to be erroneous. It is certain, says he, that
the Loo-Chooans possess and understand the use of both money and arms;
and that they have a very severe and cruel code of punishment. So far as
we are able, let us judge which of the two descriptions comes nearest
the truth.
The Loo-Choo group of islands lies in the North Pacific, and forms a
semi-circle, extending from Japan to the island of Formosa. The
inhabitants number under three millions, perhaps. The two principal
islands of the group are known as Great and Little Loo-Choo. It is to
the latter that the following remarks must be understood to refer. This
island is almost intersected by a narrow arm of the sea reaching far,
far away inland amongst the richly clad hills and mountains. This,
according to the charts, is Hancock bay, up which we are steaming.
Nature is looking her best as we pass, and wafting off to us her
sweetest smells; a green summer mantle clothes every eminence and gentle
slope; and the nestling villages have such a quiet, peaceful look, that
it seems almost a pity to disturb them--as we certainly shall--from
their dream-like repose. Each village possesses its water mill or mills,
so that the natives are not entirely ignorant of mechanics.
Hundreds of canoes, of the rudest construction, crammed with men, women,
and children, put off to us when we came to anchor. Though it is said
they are of mixed Chinese and Aïno origin; the people are of cast
countenance, and style of dress peculiar to the Japanese; they have,
however, a way of doing their hair, all their own. The men gather all
theirs into a tuft at the poll, where it is secured with a silk marling,
the extreme ends forming a sort of fringe, like a plume of feathers. The
very fine, long, and glossy hair of the women is rolled jauntily on the
top of the head in a loose spiral coil, resembling the volutes of a
shell. Through this rather graceful head-dress they stick a long silver
pin, in some cases a foot long.
They appear a very timid race. This is particularly noticeable on board.
Whether it was because they saw none of their own sex amongst us, I know
not; but I doubt if the women saw much of what they had come to see, as
most of their time was passed in eclipse under their husbands' lee, and
whose hands they never once loosed from the time of entering the ship
until they left us again. We treated them to sailors' fare, allowing
them the free run of our bread barges, and endeavoured all we could--but
without success--to set them at their ease. They were all highly
perfumed with the penetrating odour of garlic. I noticed that the
married ladies, in common with Aïno women, tattoo the backs of their
hands, though not their mouths.
One king generally suffices a people,--and even one is often found too
much--but this race tolerates _three_, or did until very recently; one
of their own; the emperor of China, whom they call father; and the
mikado of Japan, whom they style mother. To both their "parents" they
pay an immense tribute, which annually absorbs two-thirds of their
produce. It will be inferred from this that the condition of the lower
classes is very unfavorable.
Since we have been on this station these islands have been a bone of
contention, between China and Japan, as to which shall possess them; the
old "father" and "mother" farce being recognised as played out by mutual
consent. The Japs, in 1877, took the initiative, and sent an expedition
to Napa, and forcibly made the native king prisoner; and before the
Chinese were aware of what was taking place, the Japanese were
administering the laws in all parts of the little kingdom, and gradually
absorbing it into their empire. The question between the two nations is
far from being settled yet, and may at any future time prove a _casus
belli_.
The appearance of the houses on shore has given rise to not a little
speculation. All that we are enabled to make out of them from the ship
is a thatched roof raised about ten feet off the ground, and supported
on four stout uprights. Can these be dwelling houses? On landing, and
coming close up with them, we at once saw that whatever else they were
intended for, they were not places of abode. Close under the admirably
palm thatched roof is a strongly-made, tray-shaped floor, with a small
locked door beneath the eaves. Such was their simple structure. After a
little thought, we arrived at the conclusion that they must be granaries
for the stowage of grain, possibly the government tribute houses, as
they were of different design and vastly superior build to the mud and
stick hovels in which the people live. In their surroundings the natives
exhibit all the squalor and dirt of China, with none of the cleanlier
qualities of the people of Japan. Though they followed us about in
droves, they never attempted any familiarities; in fact our first
overtures were treated with awe-like silence. The only words we
understood, in common with them, were "tabac" and "Ya-pun" (Japan);
indeed Japan is the beginning and end of their ideas--their one standard
of perfection. Everything they noticed about us--watches, biscuit, the
buttons on our clothing, our _boots_ even--were all qualified with the
word "Ya-pun," in a most admiring and reverential tone. Seemingly the
Loo-Chooans have never heard of England, though on passing a school
house--wherein were about a score of children on their knees behind a
similar number of box-like desks, one of the youngsters jumped up and
shewed me an English spelling book!
We saw no money amongst them. They however recognised the Japanese
silver yen, but more on account of the inscription on it than from any
knowledge of its money value, I think. Buttons were eagerly sought
after.
Their wants seem to be extremely few and simple; and being excellent
agriculturists and expert fishers, the land and sea amply supply these
demands. Their chief export is raw sugar. We noticed some women at rude
looms engaged in manufacturing a coarse kind of cloth out of cocoa-nut
fibre; but from its appearance most of their wearing apparel is of
Japanese fabrication. The parents are very affectionate towards their
children--who, by the way, don't trouble their mammas for more clothes
than they were born in, until they are about seven or eight years old.
The earth teems with beautiful and profuse vegetation--for the most part
in a wild state. Magnificent convolvuluses and lilies, rare ferns--of
which I gathered, perhaps, as rare a collection--amongst them two or
three species of tree ferns, great raspberries and gooseberries; and a
very arcadia of flowers, lovely objects all for the artist's pencil.
The women seem devoid of that quality we so much admire in Englishwomen,
and which is so rarely found beyond England's shores--the quality of
modesty. It is rather embarrassing, for instance, whilst bathing to find
your clothes--which you had left on the beach--the centre of an admiring
and criticising crowd of ladies, handling and trying on each separate
article of your rather intricate wardrobe, and wishing, no doubt, the
owner would swim to shore and help them in their efforts. Such
unaffected simplicity and ingenuousness is most refreshing to witness.
How extremely alike child nature is all over the world! Observing a
little half-famished girl in a canoe alongside, I handed her a piece of
jam tart through the port. At first she was at a loss what to do with
it, but soon following out an universal law in such cases, she ventured
to put it to her mouth. The result may be expected; for no matter how
widely tastes differ, every child likes jam. It was real good to see the
hearty way in which that copper-skinned maid smacked her tiny cherry
lips, and looked her grateful thanks through her great lustrous almond
eyes. With the intention, perhaps, of sharing the delicacy with her
brothers and sisters, who shall say? she carefully wrapped up the
remainder, and placed it inside her only garment. How often, dear
reader, have you and I not done similarly at school feasts? Though this
little Loo-Choo's heart was willing, the flesh was weak; the parcel was
again taken out, re-examined, and re-tasted--but with evident
reluctance--till, finally, after a few ineffectual efforts to overcome
selfishness, the whole was consumed.
It is satisfactory to be able to write that in their dealings with this
simple people our men acted always with kindness and consideration;
paying, or offering payment--for it was generally refused--for
everything they had.
The arrival of the "Swift" with our mails was the signal for our
departure from pleasant Loo-Choo.
Perhaps it may be remembered that just about this time English society
at home seems to have undergone a mental crisis which, at one time,
certainly threatened the fabric of its reason; and all about that absurd
pachyderm "Jumbo." Of course, more or less, any agitation emanating
from home must in time reach Englishmen abroad; thus the "Jumbo" wave
visited these seas, and day after day, week after week, it was nothing
but "Jumbo." You would have thought the whole ship's company was
sickening for elephantiasis. Some funny fellow in the squadron noticing
this weakness, attached the name to our ship which, amongst the blue
jackets at least, has entirely supplanted the original one. But this by
the way.
Well, we reached Nagasaki without accident; coaled, and left for
Kobé,--south of Kiusiu--with a rattling breeze fair abaft. All went
smoothly until we arrived off Satano-Misaki, the southernmost point of
Kiusiu. The word "Satano," if it be, as is said, of Portuguese origin,
needs no comment. Here the fine breeze forsook us, and left us in a flat
and quite unexpected calm; for, generally speaking, in rounding this
cape the reverse of calms is met with. To make matters still more
unpleasant, a heavy ground swell began to set through the straits, and
the squadron having fires drawn at the time we all found ourselves in
the doldrums. Still, however, there was something of a current which had
its effect on the ships, so that it was impossible to keep in anything
like station. In this state of affairs the "Curaçoa" drifted on top of
the "Daring," and cracked her up a bit, rendering extensive repairs to
her absolutely necessary. She was despatched on to Kobé for this
purpose.
After varying fortunes, now a calm--anon a gale, we arrived at Kobé on
June 3rd. This makes the sixth time during the commission we have
touched at this place, and strange coincidence! on fives times out of
the six we have anchored at noon, and have dined off that delightful
compound, pea-soup, on entering the harbour.
Meanwhile the admiral and the "Swift" are away in Corea, negociating a
treaty with that nation.
On reaching Yokohama we found our anticipated pleasures doomed to
disappointment; for that yearly visitant, cholera, was holding high
revel in the town, and doing pretty well just as it pleased.
Nevertheless, the admiral arrived the previous day, and gave leave to
the squadron until 9 p.m., with injunctions against visiting certain
localities.
A few days subsequently we were joined by the "Cleopatra," late of the
flying squadron, but detached at Suez for service on this station. The
"Comus," meanwhile, is about to leave for the Pacific to replace the
"Champion," ordered to join our flag.
In spite of the precautions supposed to have been observed, cholera at
length discovered itself in the fleet; and on the 27th June a case from
the "Vigilant" and another from the "Encounter," were conveyed to the
hospital. At once further restrictions were placed on the leave, and
though not absolutely stopped it was curtailed to sundown.
July 2nd.--Resumed our cruise (now under the admiral) to the northward.
The "Foxhound," outside, was signalled to repair to Hong Kong, and the
"Zephyr" ordered up to take her place. The "Foxhound" has shewn herself
to be a most indifferent sailer and steamer, and not at all suited as a
handy auxiliary to the squadron.
July 5th.--Four years in commission to-day! Are we ever to hear anything
of our relief? I think we shall be preparing for eventualities if we
meditate a serious study of the Chinese and kindred languages to fit us
for an indefinite stay in the far east. Have they forgotten us at home?
On the passage to Hakodadi the "Cleopatra" and "Curaçoa" each lost a
poor fellow, of cholera. Thus it is evident had we not cleared out of
Yokohama when we did the epidemic might have taken alarming hold on the
squadron.
We have left Hakodadi, and are now cruising up the gulf of Tartary to as
far north as our first year's round. Passing by Dui we braced sharp up,
encountering, with double reefs, a strong wind and heavy sea for the
sixty miles stretch across to Castries bay, making that anchorage in a
dense fog. Hence we recrossed to Dui, coaled, and continued southward to
Barracouta harbour. For the future this anchorage will possess a
melancholy interest for the "Cleopatra;" for, a day before sailing, the
squadron was startled to hear that a shocking and fatal occurrence had
happened to an officer of that ship, who was unfortunately shot through
the inadvertent discharge of a fowlingpiece. He was an officer much
beloved by the ship's company.
August 12th.--A day's sail from Vladivostock we fell in with the
"Champion," one of the "Curaçoa" class. I suppose, from her appearance,
black must be the uniform of the Pacific station, a color which looks
confessedly proper and ship-shape, but one which our admiral will not
allow on any account.
On arriving at Vladivostock, scraping operations were commenced on her,
and by the following morning early her crew had greeted us with
"Good-bye, 'Jumbo,'" which they had erased in great straggling letters
along one broadside.
Our last mails, brought up by the "Zephyr," have narrowly escaped total
destruction--at least such might have been the fate of one of them; for
the steamer conveying it to Yokohama struck on a rock in the Inland
Seas, and foundered--the mails being immersed for so long a period that
when our letters reached us they were reduced to what Sala would call an
"epistolary pulp." But no news came of the "Audacious," only what the
poor mothers and wives say.
August 24th.--For the first time during our already long commission we
are about to make an acquaintance with the "hermit kingdom"--that, I
believe, is what one writer calls Corea. Japan has for a number of years
held a sort of _quasi_ intercourse with this country, and has even gone
so far as to send an embassy to the court at Seoul, and to establish two
or three settlements along the coast within the last two years. But the
Coreans, taking their cue from their suzerain, China, have ever looked
with a jealous eye on the Japanese and any other foreign relations.
However, China's Bismarck, the astute Li-hung-Chang, has recently
altered his tactics, and is now as anxious that Corea should enter into
the community of nations as he was before, that it should stand outside;
thus, when our admiral, at the beginning of the recent treaty, solicited
the prime minister's aid it was readily given; for, argued he, what
Corea, concedes to foreigners surely China has a right to demand.
Since we have been on this station two countries have attempted to
enter into treaty relations with Corea--the "Vittor Pinani," for Italy,
in 1880, and Commodore Shufeldt, for America, in the "Ticonderego," in
the same year; but both, I believe, have resulted in failure--the first
because, instead of the Italians calling China to their aid, they relied
too much on the mediations of Japan, a nation whom the Coreans mortally
detest: and the second because, though Li-hung-Chang was the medium,
Corea, whilst admitting her inferiority to China, claimed equality with
America, or with any other of the great civilized powers.
Of course no European nation is willing to concede so much; hence, for
the present, that treaty is annulled. It remains to be seen if ours is a
more honorable one or not.
At present Corea is in a state bordering on anarchy. Sundry rumours have
reached us recently of some disturbance south. So far as I am able to
glean, this is what is actually occurring. The late king dying without
issue, his adopted son, the present king, ascended the throne. During
his minority his father acted as regent--a position the latter found to
suit him so well that, by-and-by, when his son became of age he refused
to abdicate the throne in favor of its lawful occupant, threw off all
semblance of allegiance, and assumed a high-handed and arrogant bearing,
especially exhibited towards the queen and her family, with whom the
regent was at bitter feud. To compass their destruction was then his
first care, and he openly declared to the mutinous palace guard that
their grievances would not be redressed until they had compassed the
queen's death. He even suggested to them how they were to set about
it--nay, even offered to aid them. On a certain night during last July,
and according to previous arrangement, the soldiers repaired to the
palace, shouting "the queen, death to the queen." That innocent lady,
turning to her unnatural father-in-law, asked what the shouting meant
and what the people wanted of her? and he, pretending to advise her for
her good, told her that rather than live to be outraged by the soldiers
it was better she should die by her own hand, at the same time placing a
cup of poison before her, which she in her extremity actually drank,
sharing it with her son's wife, a girl only eleven years old. The king
was compelled to seek safety in flight, and according to last accounts
is still in hiding.
The regent, now left master of the situation, next turned the people
against the Japanese embassy, of whom there were twenty-eight in all.
The subsequent adventures of this little band of brave men reads more
like a page of a romance than a fact of to-day's occurrence. After
fighting their way through immense odds--crossing rivers in open boats
amidst flights of stones and arrows--lying down to rest, to find
themselves, on awaking, surrounded by a revengeful and infuriated
people--they at length reached the shore to find no junk or vessel of
sufficient size to convey them across the narrow sea to their own
country. Driven to face their enemies on the very verge of the ocean,
they eventually succeeded in retreating to some small boats--in which,
wounded and bleeding, but all alive, they confided themselves to the
sea, as being more merciful than their relentless and cruel foe. All
this, I say, savours of the romantic. Fortunately for the poor worn-out
voyagers help was at hand, for soon H.M.S. "Flying Fish" hove in sight,
on board which they were kindly received, and brought to Nagasaki.
These stirring events have actually occurred whilst we have been lying
quietly at anchor, in Gen San and Chosan. Under such a state of affairs,
who shall predict the fate of Admiral Willes' treaty?
I trust I may be pardoned for being thus prolix; but surely, we who are
actually on the scene of events ought not to be more ignorant of what is
going on in our immediate neighbourhood than our friends who are so many
thousands of miles removed from it.
I cannot say much of the Coreans, for, in the first place, the usual
sources of information are almost silent on the subject, there being
about only one reliable English work on Corea; and secondly we have no
means, had we the desire, to study this people, who are so jealous of
their women that they wont allow you to approach within a mile of their
dwellings. On one occasion I remember I sought, for the purposes of this
present narrative, to set aside this prohibition, and feigning ignorance
of it I penetrated to the outskirts of a village, when half-a-dozen big
fellows rushing up to me, and gesticulating, I thought it advisable to
"boom off." However, I saw what I had ventured thus far to see,
notwithstanding--one of their women; but I am afraid an ugly specimen of
the sex. So far does this feeling prevail that they would not permit
even our admiral's lady to satisfy a woman's curiosity about women;
though the chief of the village did condescend to allow her to sit
beside him on his mat, and even went so far as to offer her a _smoke of
his pipe_.
One of the accounts of their origin is peculiar. A certain beautiful
goddess once descended from the celestial regions and sojourned in
Corea. But it would appear that she left her hat behind, for shortly
after arrival she received a sun-stroke, which caused her to lay an egg
of abnormal size, out of which there stepped--minerva-like--a full blown
Corean of gigantic stature. This young fellow, in one of his incursions
into the mountains, one day returned to his mamma with a beautiful
white-skinned maid whom he had picked up in a fairy bower. His mother
was not at all pleased--so the story goes--with this maid of earth, and
made it so hot for her that in a fit of rage the son, whom she had
hatched with such tender solicitude, slew her. Remorseful at the deed,
he swore that henceforth a similar misfortune should never again occur
to any man; hence the seclusion of the women. I need scarcely add that
from this stalwart first Corean and his pale bride all the present race
is descended.
The mandarin at Gen San came on board, attended with great
ceremony--flags, banners, pennons, soldiers, and trumpeters, in boat
loads; the latter gentlemen being furnished with brass instruments, such
as angels are usually depicted with, but which can be made to shut up
like a telescope to vary the music. The men are certainly a fine
race--tall and upright as an arrow, and rather intelligent looking than
otherwise. They wear long coarsely-fabricated, white cotton garments,
split up behind, in front and on the hips--all tails in fact; but the
great national peculiarity seems to be the hats, some made of bamboo,
others of horse hair, of very delicate net or gauze work, and shaped
like a reversed flower pot with a rim attached. Its purpose cannot be to
keep the head warm, to protect it from the rain, or to answer any other
purpose to which a hat may be applied: for instance you could not get a
drink of water by means of it, nor would it serve as a pillow. The
ordinary color of these hats is black, but in consequence of the queen's
demise they now don a white one--white being, as in China, the symbol of
mourning. Some who cannot afford, or have not the inclination, to
purchase a white one, paste a patch of white paper over the crown of the
black one which answers the purpose just as well.
They betray a weakness for rum, and a knowledge of the vessels in which
it is usually issued on board a man-of-war, scarcely credited of a
people who have so few means of acquiring such familiarity. But so it
is, and if noses can be accepted as indices of truth in such matters,
something stronger than water has been used in tinting them.
The soldiers of the party presented the appearance of guys, rather than
men of "fight." What do you say to a mixed uniform of pink and light
blue glazed calico, over dingy under-garments of impossible analysis,
and a mushroom hat of the coarsest felt, with the distinguishing red
horse hair attached to the crown; wooden shot and powder pouches of the
roughest and rudest make slung across the shoulders by a piece of thin
cord? And such shot! irregular pellets of raw iron and lead, of which
all I can say is that dying by such help would be far from an æsthetic
operation. And yet these same soldiers, as a mere pastime, are employed
in a service which requires no mean bravery. When not fighting the
two-legged enemies of their country, they are engaged waging war against
the four-legged ones, their land being infested with tigers of great
size and strength.
In the evening the local mandarin sent a present of fruits, fowls, eggs,
vegetables, and a pig, to the admiral. "Dennis," however, made a
terrible fuss at the prospect of being converted into a toothsome dish
for the sailors, and sent up such a squeal, in choicest
pig-Corean--piercing, prolonged, torturing--that the band was compelled
to cease, in the midst of the most pathetic part of "_La Traviata_," out
of respect of his superior music.
As the ladies of this country are for ever immured within the four mud
walls of their houses, the men have usurped a right generally conceded
to females, namely, that of indicating by some sign their state in
life--married or single. The married men do their hair up in a knot at
the top of the head; those who have not yet seen the girl they like
better than themselves wear theirs in a loose trace behind; whilst some
others who have successfully passed through both states, and are quite
willing to try it again--for marriage amongst them is honorable and
universal, as in China--indicate this desire by donning a sort of skull
cap. I thought it not a little curious that the men, and not the women,
should take the initiative in this matter. Men, in general, after having
committed a mistake, don't like to admit it.
After Gen-San we moved a little further south to Chosan, where, scarce
had we anchored, when the arrival of a small steamer threw the whole
squadron into violent commotion. She had been chartered either by Sir
Thomas Wade or Sir Harry Parkes expressly to convey despatches to the
admiral--what the subject was none of us could even guess, though it
subsequently leaked out that a disturbance of some sort had broken out
at Foo-Choo. The "Zephyr" was at once signalled to raise steam; and all
the admiral's staff were warned to hold themselves in readiness to turn
over to the "Vigilant" on the following day. Next morning the admiral
sailed, preceded by the "Cleopatra" by a few hours, and followed by the
"Swift."
September 12th.--We are now at Port Hamilton, and drawing towards the
end of our cruise. The "Vigilant" came in this morning with Mrs. Willes
on board to witness the regatta got up for the squadron. It was a
success in every way--especially so to the crew of our first cutter; in
fact a more than average share of prizes fell to "Jumbo." I quote the
flag borne by our boats (arms, an elephant passant-argent; motto,
"Jumbo"). The sailing races were to have come off the following day, but
at daybreak it was blowing so hard, and the barometer falling so
rapidly, that a second anchor had to be dropped. On the gale increasing
cable was veered; and it went on increasing until a third anchor was let
go.
The third day came in fine, with a breeze all that could be desired. To
prevent loss of time, and to simplify matters, all the boats, of no
matter what race, started at once. It was a pretty sight to witness this
mosquito fleet clapping on sail after sail--balloons, outriggers,
skyjibs, and other extraordinary bits of duck. Our second cutter--under
the joint control of the commander and Mr. Alexander, midshipman--went
around in splendid style, the manoeuvring of Mr. Alexander being beyond
all praise. She came in first, and carried off the admiral's cup. The
whaler was managed equally well by Mr. Patey, and came in an excellent
second.
This regatta brought the cruise practically to an end, though each ship
has to repair to Chefoo for provisions, independently of the other.
On the passage we ran against something dirty, which succeeded in
whipping our main-topsail clean off the yard, and left it dangling by
the starboard sheet, at the lower yard-arm; and as misfortunes don't
happen singly, the jib made most energetic and partially successful
efforts to hang up beside it. It did not reach quite so far aft as that,
but it did manage to coil itself around the fore yard arm. Such a
terrific squall we have never encountered before. And such lightning and
rain! who ever saw the like?
But joyful news was awaiting us at Chefoo. Mr. Robinson, in fulfilment
of a promise he made on leaving us at Nagasaki, telegraphed the welcome,
long-expected intelligence that the "Audacious" commissioned on the 5th
instant.
And now, dear shipmates, I must leave you, and I do so at once
regretfully and joyfully; regretfully, that I have to bid farewell to
what has given me not a little pleasure to write; joyfully, that I
have--as I would fain hope--been enabled to bring my narrative to a
successful termination. If any of you are disappointed that I have not
pursued it further, think how necessary it was that my manuscript should
be in the printer's hands as speedily as possible. I thought no more
opportune ending could have offered itself to me than the telegram
before quoted.
If "In Eastern Seas" shall have in the slightest degree contributed one
pleasure to you or your friends, or shall be the humble instrument of
calling to your mind some pleasant memories of the commission, I shall
indeed feel amply rewarded for any little trouble I may have been put to
in helping you to such pleasure or to such memories.
We have seen many lands together, many and strange peoples, much that is
delightful beyond description in this, our beautiful world; but, after
all, one feels his soul filled with enthusiasm at the thought that he is
an Englishman, though he may be but a sailor. Persons at home scarcely
realise what an inheritance that is.
In conclusion, may we all find happy homes; happy mothers, wives,
sisters, and sweethearts, all the more willing to treasure us because we
have been loyal to them for such a long, long time. I don't drink--as
you know--but I don't mind cracking a bottle of lemonade to the future
success in life, and happiness of all my late, much-respected,
shipmates. God bless them all.
APPENDIX A.
Deaths During the Commission.
Rank or Date of Place of Cause of
NAMES. Rating. Death. Death. Death.
------------------------------------------------------------------
1878.
-----
John Bayley Pte. R.M. Sept. 13th Red Sea Heat Apoplexy
Mr. Easton Gunner " 14th " "
Mr. Scoble Engineer " 17th " "
E. Dewdney Boy Oct 18th Singapore "
1879.
-----
Richd. Darcy Ord. March 10th Hong Kong Fall from Aloft
Hy. Harper Bandsman May 10th Shanghai Decline
Fredk. Smyth Stoker July 3rd Yokohama Drowning
Ch. Allen Ord. Dec. 11th Amoy "
1880.
-----
John Irish A.B. Oct. 26th At Sea "
1881.
-----
Wm. Edwards 2d. C.M.T. April 15th Hong Kong General Debility
Wm. Edwards Boy June 24th Chefoo Fall from Aloft
Wm. McGill Ord. Aug. 12th Vladivostock "
John Higgins Pte. R.M. Novr. 6th Wosung Choleraic
Diarrhoea
Wm. Young A.B. " 8th " "
Wm. Drew[A] A.B. ? Hong Kong Ruptured
Blood-vessel
[Note A: Discharged to hospital, and died during our cruise to the
north. Date of death not procurable in ship's office.]
APPENDIX B.
Table showing places visited and actual distance run, in miles,
by H.M.S. "Iron Duke" during commission.
Date Date Actual
of of Distance
Departure. From To Arrival. run.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
July 25 Plymouth Portsmouth July 26 139
August 1 Portsmouth Plymouth August 2 150
" 4 Plymouth Gibraltar " 11 1022
" 15 Gibraltar Malta " 22 931
" 25 Malta Port Said Septr. 1 865
Septr. 2 Port Said Suez " 4 86
" 7 Suez Aden " 17 1144
" 21 Aden Point de Galle Octr. 4 1950
Octr. 8 Point de Galle Singapore " 18 1434
Novr. 18 Singapore Malacca Novr. 19 100
" 19 Malacca Din Ding " 21 164
" 21 Din Ding Penang " 22 102
" 28 Penang Din Ding " 29 112
" 30 Din Ding Singapore Decr. 2 271
Decr. 5 Singapore Sarawak " 8 368
" 9 Sarawak Labuan " 12 325
" 14 Labuan Manilla " 19 724
" 24 Manilla Manilla " 28 511
" 31 Manilla Hong Kong Jany. 4 640
1879.
March 11 Hong Kong Chino Bay March 12 101
" 14 Chino Bay Hong Kong " 15 101
April 21 Hong Kong Merz Bay April 21 61
" 22 Merz Bay Amoy " 24 262
" 26 Amoy White Dogs " 27 152
" 28 White Dogs Chusan " 30 283
May 5 Chusan Wosung May 7 111
" 23 Wosung Nagasaki " 25 388
June 11 Nagasaki Takasima June 12 230
" 13 Takasima Sojasima " 13 96
" 14 Sojasima Kobé " 14 39
" 17 Kobé Yokohama " 19 319
July 24 Yokohama Yamada July 25 231
" 26 Yamada Awomori " 27 200
" 28 Awomori Hakodadi " 29 53
August 9 Hakodaté Dui Augst 15 597
" 16 Dui Castries Bay " 17 51
" 19 Castries Bay Barracouta Hr. " 20 132
" 23 Barracouta Hr. Olga Bay " 26 380
" 26 Olga Bay Askold Is. " 27 146
" 28 Askold Is. Vladivostock " 28 32
" 31 Vladivostock Nagasaki Septr. 4 666
Septr. 7 Nagasaki Chefoo " 12 580
Octr. 18 Chefoo Takasima Octr. 23 662
" 24 Takasima Sojasima " 24 94
" 25 Sojasima Kobé " 25 48
Novr. 5 Kobé Yokohama Novr. 6 346
" 24 Yokohama Matson Is. Decr. 3 1311
Decr. 3 Matson Amoy " 4 185
" 12 Amoy Hope Bay " 13 132
" 14 Hope Bay Hong Kong " 15 146
At Hong Kong Target Practice 147
1880.
April 5 Hong Kong Tong Sha April 9 423
" 15 Tong Sha Chefoo " 21 844
May 11 Chefoo Nagasaki May 15 581
" 29 Nagasaki Yobuko " 29 88
" 31 Yobuko Himesima " 31 109
June 1 Himesima Obe-hito-ura June 1 60
" 2 Obe-hito-ura Sojasima " 2 89
" 3 Sojasima Kobé " 3 45
" 9 Kobé Yokohama " 12 364
July 8 Yokohama Kamaishi July 10 339
" 10 Kamaishi Endermo " 12 240
" 17 Endermo Hakodadi " 17 68
" 29 Hakodadi O'Kosiri island " 30 94
August 3 Okisiri Island Hakodadi August 3 80
" 6 Hakodadi Nagasaki " 10 830
" 11 Nagasaki Amoy " 16 922
" 17 Amoy Hong Kong " 18 295
Septr. 25 Hong Kong Amoy Septr. 27 349
" 28 Amoy Nagasaki Octr. 5 896
Octr. 16 Nagasaki Sojasima " 18 369
" 19 Sojasima Kobé " 19 51
" 23 Kobé Sojasima " 23 68
" 24 Sojasima Nagasaki " 26 312
Decr 2 Nagasaki Rugged Isles Decr. 5 440
" 10 Rugged Isles Pirates' Bay " 10 10
" 11 Pirates' Bay Amoy " 14 495
" 15 Amoy Hong Kong " 17 258
1881.
Feby. 16 Hong Kong Singapore Feby. 24 1415
March 3 Singapore Malacca March 4 106
" 4 Malacca Din Ding " 6 170
" 6 Din Ding Penang " 7 97
" 8 Penang Singapore " 11 412
" 13 Singapore Cape St. James " 17 658
" 18 Cape St. James Saigon " 18 38
" 19 Saigon Hong Kong " 25 1067
April 21 Hong Kong Chino Bay April 22 148
" 25 Chino Bay Tungao Bay " 25 33
" 26 Tungao Bay Namoa Is. " 26 55
" 30 Namoa Is. Rees Is. " 30 40
May 1 Rees Is. Amoy May 1 57
" 7 Amoy Lamyet Is. " 8 117
" 13 Lamyet Is. White Dogs " 13 64
" 14 White Dogs Matson " 14 18
" 19 Matson Chefoo June 6 1269
July 3 Chefoo Wosung July 6 467
" 10 Wosung Nagasaki " 14 426
" 28 Nagasaki Tsusima " 29 127
" 31 Tsusima Posiette Bay August 7 606
Augst. 11 Posiette Bay Vladivostock " 12 78
" 19 Vladivostock Olga Bay " 22 190
" 29 Olga Bay St. Vladimir Bay " 30 24
Septr. 3 St. Vladimir Bay Hakodadi Septr. 7 373
" 15 Hakodadi[A] Yamada " 17 239
" 18 Yamada Sendai Bay " 19 104
" 20 Sendai Bay Yokosuka " 22 274
" 24 Yokosuka Yokohama " 24 13
Octr. 2 Yokohama Kobé Octr. 4 372
" 5 Kobé Sojasima " 5 42
" 6 Sojasima Gogosima " 6 92
" 7 Gogosima Himesima " 7 51
" 8 Himesima Nagasaki " 9 210
" 26 Nagasaki Wosung " 29 448
Novr. 23 Wosung Hong Kong Novr. 29 804
[Note A: Touched at Kamaishi _en route_.]
1882.
Feby. 11 Hong Kong Titam Bay Feby. 11 22
" 13 Titam Bay Titam Bay " 13 6
" 14 Titam Bay Bogue Forts " 14 60
" 27 Bogue Forts Hong Kong " 27 61
April 19 Hong Kong Osima, Loo Choo May 3 1193
May 11 Osima, Loo Choo Nagasaki " 16 416
" 27 Nagasaki Kobé June 3 532
June 10 Kobé Kaneda Bay " 14 368
" 15 Kaneda Bay Yokohama " 15 21
July 2 Yokohama Hakodadi July 9 665
" 12 Hakodadi Castries Bay " 22 636
" 27 Castries Bay Dui " 28 54
" 30 Dui Barracouta " 31 131
August 4 Barracouta Vladivostock Augst 13 480
" 19 Vladivostock Gen San[B] " 24 393
" 30 Gen San Fusan[C] Septr. 3 288
Septr. 7 Fusan Port Hamilton " 8 134
" 15 Port Hamilton Chefoo " 19 429
Octr. 4 Chefoo Wosung Octr. 8 482
" 20 Wosung Nagasaki 388
[D] Nagasaki Hong Kong 1217
Decr. 7 Hong Kong Singapore 1415
" 20 Singapore Point de Galle
or Trincomalee 1434
1883.
[D] Point de Galle Aden Jany. 15 1950
Jany. 17 Aden Suez 1114
[D] Suez Port Said " 27 86
" 28 Port Said Malta Feby. 4 865
Feby. 7 Malta Gibraltar 931
[D] Gibraltar Plymouth 1022
Total number of miles made during the commission, 55,566; or a distance
equal to 2-1/4 times around the earth.
[Note B: Port Lazaref.]
[Note C: Cho-San.]
[Note D: The writer assumes that these places will be visited
on the voyage home; and--as will be seen by referring to the
earlier part of the table--we have touched at the same places
before, the same distances are quoted. The dates necessary to
make the form complete it is hoped the reader will be able to
supply.]
PRINTED AT THE "BREMNER" PRINTING WORKS, DEVONPORT.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:
Every effort has been made to keep to the original text as much as
possible. Non-standard spelling and grammar have been mostly preserved.
Changes have only been made in the case of obvious typographical
errors, and where not making a correction would leave the text
confusing or difficult to read. There is a fair amount of inconsistency
in the author's transliteration of foreign words, especially in place
and person names. Such inconsistency has been mostly preserved but in
some cases names have been made more recognizable or the spelling has
been standardized so that it is easier for the reader to follow the
author's narrative. All changes are documented below.
Inconsistencies in the hyphenation of words preserved. (ahead, a-head;
bluejackets, blue-jackets; cocoanut, cocoa-nut; eyebrows, eye-brows;
Gen San, Gen-San; ironclad, iron-clad; Loo Choo, Loo Choo; outlined,
out-lined; ricksha, rich-sha; seaboard, sea-board; semicircle,
semi-circle; sundown, sun-down; stokehole, stoke-hole; Tientsin,
Tien-tsin; Tsusima, Tsu-sima; topgallant, top-gallant; Yangtsze,
Yang-tsze;)
The author's inconsistent style of making a diary entry has been
preserved. In some cases, a date is followed by a period and emdash and
then the entry proper. In others, there is a date, no period and an
emdash. In yet others, the date is followed by a comma and then the
entry proper.
Pg. 7, word "smart'", in the original there was a lefthand or opening
single quote mark just after the letter "t" and the whole word
including the single quote mark was enclosed in double quote marks. The
opening single quote mark is more plausibly a comma which printer has
placed upside down. Changed to comma. (we are told he is "smart,"
meaning, of course, that)
Pg. 8, "fete" grave accent changed to circumflex, matching spelling on
page 289. (a sort of fête was made of it)
Pg. 10, period after "aft" changed to comma, which is more appropriate
in the context. (two forward and two aft, that they may be discharged)
Pg. 20, "aud" changed to "and". (beer and stout, and something)
Pg. 21, duplicated word "are" removed (we are invited to insert our
names)
Pg. 28, "Pontellaria" changed to "Pantellaria", to match spelling later
in the same paragraph. (for Pantellaria--an island of more interest)
Pg. 30, "criental". The word "oriental" might possibly have been
intended, however, the original text is preserved. (criental love for
colour)
Pg. 31, "ubiquitious May" changed to "ubiquitous Mary". The phrase
"ubiquitous Mary" seems more appropriate in context, changed
accordingly. (who does not know Mary the ubiquitous Mary)
Pg. 50, "laterel" changed to "lateral". (by dint of a little lateral
pressure)
Pg. 54, "Simatra" changed to "Sumatra". (off Acheen head, in Sumatra)
Pg. 56, "liries" changed to "lories", seems more appropriate in
context. (doves, pigeons, lories, and humming birds)
Pg. 61, "to the Hindoo god Brahin". Unclear what author's intended to
refer to: "Brahmin", "Brahma" are among several possibilities. The
author's original text is preserved.
Pg. 61, "becomiug" changed to "becoming". (becoming a fixture by
planting his feet)
Pg. 64, "Lebaun" changed to "Labuan", to match spelling elsewhere in
the text. (Coaling is a long process at Labuan)
Pg. 72, "Rowloon" changed to "Kowloon". (the peninsula of Kowloon)
Pg. 72, "wont". Throughout the text, when "wont" is used as a
contraction for "will not" or "would not" the author did not insert
an apostrophe. This original style is preserved in all instances. In
other contexts the author also uses "wont" to mean "habitually".
Pg. 74, "Cirea" changed to "Corea", matching the spelling elsewhere in
the text for the country now more commonly called "Korea". (beyond it
in Japan, Corea, and)
Pg. 75, "Cirea" changed to "Corea", matching the spelling elsewhere in
the text for the country now more commonly called "Korea". (after the
style of the people of Corea)
Pg. 85, "blatent" changed to "blatant". (and other blatant
pyrotechnical compositions)
Pg. 85, "univeral" changed to "universal". (there is but one universal
fashion of garment)
Pg. 91, "as" changed to "at", which seems more appropriate in
context. (arsenal was built at Foo-Choo)
Pg. 92, ship name "Eyera". Author was possibly referring to "Egeria",
an English warship which is also mentioned elsewhere in the text.
Original spelling preserved.
Pg. 92, ship name "Monocasy". Author was most likely referring to the
USS Monocacy but the author's original spelling is preserved as it is a
plausible rendering of an unfamiliar name as he heard it.
Pg. 94, a closing double quote mark is presumed after the word
"delight" and has been inserted. ("unqualified expressions of
delight,")
Pg. 96, "Yeso" also spelled "Yesso" and "Yezo" elsewhere in the text.
The original text is preserved in all instances.
Pg. 97, "panace" changed to "panacea", seems more appropriate and
easily understood in the context. (was the panacea he sought)
Pg. 98, "Sintor", elsewhere, also "Sintoo". This refers to the Japanese
religion now more commonly spelled "Shinto". However, the author's
original spelling is preserved as they are plausible transliterations
of the foreign words as heard by an English seaman with no knowledge of
Japanese.
Pg. 98, "Kivto" changed to "Kioto", matching spelling elsewhere in the
text. This refers to the Japanese city now more commonly spelled
"Kyoto". (to the holy city, Kioto, where)
Pg. 108, "by putting on, in addition their long gown" would read more
smoothly as "by putting on, in addition to their long gown". The word
"to" has been added. (by putting on, in addition to their long gown, a
European hat)
Pg. 110, "coure" changed to "course". (only of course on a much more
gigantic)
Pg. 119, "shades" changed to "shade", seems more appropriate in
context. (effect of light and shade playing)
Pg. 119, "Fusi-yama" refers to the mountain now more commonly spelled
Fujiyama. The author's original spelling is preserved as it is a
plausible rendering of an unfamiliar word as he heard it.
Pg. 119, comma after "days" changed to period, seems more appropriate
in context. (of a few days. Few sights are likely)
Pg. 120, "usuage" changed to "usage". (the common usage of maritime
nations)
Pg. 121, "part" changed to "port", seems more appropriate in context.
(chief naval and foreign trading port of Japan)
Pg. 129, "nationalites" changed to "nationalities", seems more
appropriate in context. (The two nationalities I have mentioned seem)
Pg. 136, "Saghalien" is also spelled "Sagalien" on page 168. Original
text preserved in both instances.
Pg. 150, "infer" changed to "refer", seems more appropriate in context.
(I refer, of course, to that bird which)
Pg. 159, "unusal" changed to "unusual". (such heavy and unusual
evolutions)
Pg. 161, "billets deux" changed to "billets doux", seems
more appropriate in context. (six or eight _billets doux_.)
Pg. 162, "bumbed". The author might possibly have intended "bumped" but
unclear, so original text preserved. (From the manner in which the
cable "surged" and bumbed)
Pg. 162, "their was still" changed to "there was still", seems more
appropriate in context. (and as there was still a big lump of a sea on)
Pg. 163, "Golo islands". Author was probably referring to the "Goto
islands". However the author's original spelling is preserved as it is
a plausible transliteration of an unfamiliar word as he heard it.
Pg. 166, comma changed to period at end of sentence. (their sex. Can it
be that this is)
Pg. 168, "daïmios". This is also spelled "daimio" without diaeresis
above the "i" elsewhere in the text. The original spellings have been
preserved in all instances.
Pg. 173, "unusal" changed to "unusual". (presence of an unusual number
of jelly-fish)
Pg. 175, "Liminoseki" likely to be "Simonoseki", as mentioned on page
99 and also as "Simoneski" on pages 113 and 153, both plausible
transliterations. The author was most likely referring to the place now
more commonly spelled "Shimonoseki". Changed to "Simonoseki". (we had
cleared the strait of Simonoseki, we fell in with)
Pg. 176, "legecy" changed to "legacy". (come into a legacy from some of
his)
Pg. 178 and 179, ship name "Thèmis" is more correctly spelled "Thémis"
and "Themis". The original spelling is preserved in all instances as
all are plausible renderings on the part of the author and there is no
ambiguity in reference.
Pg. 183, original text "January 28th" probably ought to read "February
28th" in order to conform to the chronological sequence. Changed
accordingly. (February 28th.--So quietly, that the)
Pg. 185, "populaton" changed to "population". (The native population is
Anamese)
Pg. 188, "gulf of Ne-chili" changed to "gulf of Pe-chili". (for
evolutions in the gulf of Pe-chili)
Pg. 192, "slighest" changed to "slightest". (does not lessen her chance
of coming in first in the slightest)
Pg. 192, period changed to comma after "sail". (At the moment of
shortening sail, our lame duck)
Pg. 195, place name "Yokusuka" also spelled "Yokosuka" elsewhere in the
text. Both are plausible transliterations and so the original is
preserved in all cases.
Pg. 196, "pupose" changed to "purpose". (for the purpose of making the
ships)
Pg. 204, missing period at sentence end, added. (in this neighbourhood.
Dozens of these)
Pg. 211, "recalcitant" changed to "recalcitrant". (proved themselves so
reckless and recalcitrant)
Pg. 217, missing period at sentence end, added. (set them at their
ease. They were all)
Pg. 225, ship name "Vittor Pinani" is more correctly spelled "Vittor
Pisani" on page 143. The author's original spelling is preserved as it
is a plausible rendering of an unfamiliar name as he heard it and there
is little ambiguity. Also closing double quote mark added after
"Pinani". (the "Vittor Pinani," for Italy, in 1880)
Pg. 225, ship name "Ticonderego" is more correctly spelled
"Ticonderoga". However, the author's original spelling is preserved as
it is a plausible rendering of an unfamiliar name as he heard it and
there is little ambiguity.
Itinerary, entry for 1879, August 9, point of departure "Hakodaté".
This should probably read "Hakodadi", a spelling which is used in the
entry just above and also, consistently, elsewhere in the text
(although the place name is in fact more commonly spelled Hakodate
today). The difference in spelling between the names in the two
adjacent itinerary entries is rather easy to spot, and so the
inconsistency is puzzling. To allow for the possibility that the author
might well have spotted the inconsistency and chose, for whatever
reason, to let it remain, the original text is preserved.
Itinerary, entry for 1880, August 3, point of departure, "Okisiri
Island". This should probably read "O'Kosiri Island", a spelling used
in the entry just above and elsewhere in the text, being a place of
some importance in the narrative. However the original spelling is
preserved for the same reasons as for "Hakodaté" above.