VLADIVOSTOCK
July 31st.—Towards midday the harbour of Vladivostock came to view. We
have reached the end of our long voyage. I am so happy to get away from
the _Orel_ where we have been cooped up for forty-one days.
Before landing, a Te Deum of thanksgiving, for having reached
Vladivostock in safety, was sung on the deck. On the red-carpeted pier a
roar of cheering went up as we passed. The faces all seemed familiar. I
hastened to distribute greetings and nods among a number of the crowd.
The daughter of the agent of the Volunteer Fleet presented me with an
enormous bouquet, tied with a broad pink ribbon, bearing the inscription,
“Welcome!”
We walked to the military club, where apartments were prepared for us.
To-morrow we leave for Khabarovsk. At night the town and the ships in the
harbour were beautifully illuminated.
August 1st.—We left Vladivostock by an express train on a moonless night.
Two rows of Chinese coolies, each holding a Japanese lantern over his
head, lined our way from the military club to the railway station. Many
officers and engineers accompanied us as far as Iman, where we shall take
the boat to Khabarovsk.
August 2nd.—The rain is falling all the time, transforming the roads into
liquid mud. We met with an accident this morning. The last car of our
train ran off the track, and we had to stop in the middle of a field, and
it was two hours before we could continue our journey. Everybody had to
descend. Chinese coolies, who were working on the railway line, brought
a long narrow plank on which we crossed to the other side of the road,
balancing like dancers on the cord. Two engineers supported me, picking
their way among the rain-pools. At last all was repaired, and our train
set forward _piano-pianissimo_; it could beat the world’s record for its
slowness, it simply crawled, and we arrived at Iman only at nightfall,
and took the boat to Khabarovsk.
August 3rd.—At six o’clock in the evening we moored at Khabarovsk. Our
arrival was announced as usual by cannon-shots. I saw a crowd of friendly
faces on the quay, and shook hands all around. Khabarovsk looked very
bright. Troops lined all the way to our house.