Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 181

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214

1841.

No. VII.

Notices of Japan, No.

167

hospitably, and gave him a letter to the commandant of another Jetorop fortress, where, the anchorage being safer, wood and water might be more easily shipped. Golownin made no use of this friendly introduction, but continued for weeks to sail about amongst the islands, exploring, according to his instructions. When at length the wants he had prematurely alleged really pressed, he did not seek the Jetorop harbor recommended to him, but cast anchor in a bay of another yet more southern Kurile island, Kunashir. Here a similar misunderstanding occur- red with the commandant of an adjoining fortress, but was not so happily got over. The Japanese officer merely affected to be satisfied till he had lulled Golownin in- to security; and then, upon his landing without his usual precautions, surprised overpowered, and made prisonors of him, his officers, and his boat's crew.

The mixture of cruelty and kindness that marked their treatment astonished the Russians, but is easily intelligible to those who have made acquaintance with the Japanese character. The cruelty was deemed essential to their safe custody, and any torture contributing to such an object would be unhesitatingly, as relent- lessly, inflicted. The kindness was the genuine offspring of Japanese good-nature, ever prompt to confer favors, grant indulgences, and give pleasure, even at the cost of some personal inconvenience.

Thus the Russians were bound all over with small cords so tightly, as to render them perfectly helpless, as to induce the necessity of their meat and drink being put into their mouths: whilst their legs were allowed just sufficient liberty to enable them to walk: The ends of each man's cord were held by a soldier; and in this state they were driven over land or piled upon one another in boats, when they were to cross the sea. Their complaints that the cords cut into their flesh were totally disregarded, and though the wounds were carefully dressed every night, the cords were neither removed nor slackened; but their guards, who underwent more fatigue than themselves, were always ready to carry them when tired, and seemed to grant with pleasure the frequent requests of the compas. sionate villagers of both sexes upon their road, to be permitted to give the prison- ers a good meal: when the givers stood around, and feeding them like infants, seemed to enjoy the refreshment they afforded. The Russians were moreover constantly assured that they were only bound as Japanese prisoners of their rank would be.

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They were finally conveyed to Matsmai, and there kept in prison. After a while, a good house was perpared for their accommodation, where they could be guarded with less annoyance to themselves. The use they made of this indulgence was to attempt an escape, which of course led to their being again committed to the surer custody of a prison. The continued friendship of the governor after this eva- sion, the success of which must have compelled him to the hara-kiri operation- and they were not retaken for some days-is a lively example of the good disposi- tion of the Japanese. So is the behavior of one of their guards, who, though degraded from a soldier to a prison servant, because on duty at the time of their flight, exerted himself unremittingly to procure them comforts. The great topics of Golownin's complaints in prison, where he and his companions were immediate. ly unbound, are want of food and troublesome questions; but this simply means, that the abstemious Japanese could not even conceive the appetite of a Russian sailor, and that the Europeans were above answering questions which, under reversed circumstances, they would gladly have put.