NAGASAKI
If Ireland is called “Erin,” (Green Island), this name would suit Japan
still better. After the bare coasts of Siberia and Corea, the eye rests
with delight on the beautiful verdure of the Japanese Islands.
The Bay of Nagasaki is very animated for the moment. After the end of
the war all the fleet of the Pacific Ocean has assembled here: English,
French, Russian and American cruisers, and monster ironclads, filled the
harbour with their menace.
We went on to land in a steam-launch put at our disposal by Mr.
Guinzburg, a German merchant who has grown awfully rich by being the
official supplier of the Russian fleet. Our Consul, Mr. Kostileff, was
on the pier to meet us, and walked with us to the Grand Hotel, where we
decided to take a few hours of rest. Out flew our hostess all smiles and
a hearty welcome, highly pleased to see us return to her hotel.
A printed placard, hanging up outside the bureau, announced that a big
English steamer, the _Empress of China_ belonging to the Canadian Line,
starts to-morrow for Vancouver _via_ Shanghai. The idea came to us to
continue our voyage on that boat for a change, but we were told that
there was no place on board.
After tiffin, we took five rikshas and went to call upon the Consul’s
wife, but didn’t find her at home. After having made a round of the curio
shops, we drove through broad streets full of drinking dens, with Russian
and English sign-boards. On the threshold stood girls with very much
painted faces, clad in European dress, who—as a bait—surveyed the sailors
of different nations, who swung along arm in arm and came here to take
a bite at their fishing-line, after their long and virtuous crossing.
These girls are for the most part Russian Jewesses, to be found in nearly
all the ports of the far East. After dinner we returned on board the
_Khabarovsk_.
September 23rd.—I was wakened very early by the sound of military bands
playing the Russian and English anthems, and the Marseillaise, on
different cruisers. In the afternoon we left for Shanghai.