FROM NAGASAKI TO SHANGHAI
September 24th.—We cross the treacherous Japanese Sea, on which the
monsoons, disagreeable north-east winds, are raging in this season. We
went on deck for a breath of fresh air and had a chat with the captain.
He told us of the danger we were running during our stay at Nagasaki,
because of the hatred of the Japs towards Russians. Every time we left
the hotel we were followed by two detectives to protect us. The captain,
as it appears, always carried a loaded pistol in his pocket when he
accompanied us in the streets.
We saw a black spot advancing rapidly towards us; we are going to have
a storm. Soon wind began to blow furiously, and the ship staggered and
pitched. The captain promised better weather for to-morrow; yes, but it
is to-day that we have to go through!
September 25th.—Yellow spots appear on the water, it means that we are
going to enter the great Yang-tse-kiang, the sacred Blue River; a false
nomenclature, as the river is not blue but yellow; just the same as the
Blue Danube, which nobody has ever seen of azure colour. We anchored at
the mouth of the Woosung, nine miles off Shanghai and have to wait till
morning, the water being very low.
September 27th.—I was up and dressed at dawn and mounted half asleep
on deck. The rising tide was beginning to put all the anchored vessels
afloat. The entrance into the harbour of Shanghai being rather dangerous,
we put out signs calling the pilot, and soon perceived his fragile skiff,
which the waves seemed to swallow up at every moment. Our sailors had to
pull the pilot up by means of a rope, after which we went up the Woosung
river, of dirty dark brown colour. The banks are low and scattered all
over with habitations. The pilot brought us into the port, filled with
cruisers of all nationalities.