DEAR NISHIDA,--We got back on the night of the twenty-third. We had
to wait a couple of days at Sakai; and I had some more swimming. Dr.
Takahashi was very much surprised at my condition. He said that my lungs
had become perfectly well, and that the swimming had brought out all
the chest-muscles again in an extraordinary way--considering the time
in which it had happened. He tells me to go to the sea whenever I feel
pulled down again.
Sakai is a queer place for swimming. The currents change three times
every day, and twice at least become very strong. One who cannot swim
far has to be careful. Straws in the water show the way of the current
near shore; but in the middle there are cross-currents going the other
way.
There were eight foreign officers on the Meiji Maru. They were very kind
to us. The captain (his name is Poole) was decorated with the 3d Order
of the Rising Sun (I think) and got a present of $2000 for services
during the war,--the transport-service, of course. He told me some very
interesting things about the behaviour of the soldiery,--very nice
things.
I felt unhappy at the Ōhashi, because you waited so long, and I had
no power to coax you to go home. I can still see you sitting there
so kindly and patiently,--in the great heat of that afternoon. Write
soon,--if only a line in Japanese,--to tell us how you are.
Kaji-_chan_ remembers you, and sends his little greeting to Nishida-San
no Oji-San. We all hope to have another summer with you next year.
Ever faithfully, with warmest regards of all,