334 First Russian Embassy to Japan, 



tjcles which they could obtain much nearer and much 

 better from the Russians. 



On the S&th of April 1793 a numerous embassy arrived 

 at Nimuro, from Jedo and Matmai. The whole suite con- 

 sisted of sixty Japanese and a hundred and fifty Kurilians;. 

 the latter of whom were employed as an escort and porters. 

 Next day the Russians were invited to an audience, and re- 

 ceived in a large hall, which was formed of all the apart- 

 ments of the house by removing the paper screens or parti- 

 tions usual in Japan ; and where they were entertained with 

 tea, cakes, and a kind of wine called sakki, which the Ja- 

 panese extract from rice. The senior then read the impe- 

 rial answer to the letter sent to Jedo, by which, instead of 

 the requested permission, the Russians were allowed only to 

 proceed bv land under an escort to Matmai, in order to de- 

 liver the Japanese whom they had brought with them. As 

 this declaration, however, did not correspond with the ob^ 

 j.ect of the voyage, M. Laxman declined the proposal ; and 

 till the end of May the Japanese officers used every means 

 in their power to prevent the Russians from proceeding fur- 

 ther with their vessel. But M. Laxman, tired of the long* 

 delay, having at length declared that he would continue his 

 voyage to Chakodasche, as being the nearest harbour of Mat- 

 mai, they resolved to accompany him ; and on the fourth 

 of June he sailed from the harbour attended by two Japa-. 

 nese vessels. 



On the 17th they passed the small island of Yururi, in 

 the neighbourhood of Nimuro, at which the two Japanese 

 ships, which had found a much shorter but a very danger- 

 ous route through two exceedingly narrow and crooked 

 channels, had already landed in order to w r ait for their ar- 

 rival. 



On the 23d they sailed along another small island, Ki- 

 dab, which had a small bay exceedingly convenient for an- 

 choring. 



On the 24th they anchored opposite to Atkis, in ten fa- 

 thoms water. This harbour is deep, and sufficiently con-, 

 venient and capacious for large vessels; it is entirely sur- 

 rounded by hills covered with bushes, and sheltered from 

 every wind. Besides the native Kurilians. settled in the 

 neighbourhood, there resides here a Japanese custom-house, 

 officer. 



On the 4th of July the vessel arrived in the harbour of 

 Chakodasche, and came to anchor. The daigvan or com- 

 mander of the town immediately made his appearance, and 

 wilh great politeness offered |o. assist the Russians in what-. 



ever 



