First Russian "Emlassy to Japan.. 333 



ever they might want. Besides a guard, which was re-» 

 guested to restrain the curiosity of the populace, who 

 thronged around them, he dispatched thirty boats manned 

 chiefly with Kurilians, by whose assistance, as it was then 

 calm, the vessel was towed into the harbour. 



In consequence of an invitation, the officers went oa 

 shore in the afternoon to refresh themselves, after the fa- 

 tigues of their vovage, in the baths of the daigvan. M. 

 Laxman and his suite were received on the shore with great 

 ceremony by the daigvan and principal persons of the town, 

 and conducted to a building, over the entrance to which 

 was affixed a board with the inscription " Russian House." 

 The house was neatly furnished, and lay contiguous to a 

 garden, in which the wildness of nature was imitated with 

 great art, by means of moss, shells, and other things. After 

 enjoying the refreshment of the bath, the Russians were 

 entertained with a collation, and then conveyed back to 

 their vessel with the same ceremonies. 



On the 9th M. Laxman paid a visit to the north side of 

 the harbour opposite to the town. On both sides of the 

 road he observed fields in a high state of cultivation, which 

 were sown with wheat, beans, flax, hemp, and tobacco. 

 In the gardens he remarked in particular, turnips, carrots, 

 radishes, beet-root, common and Turkish beans. Of cattle 

 he saw no trace, which arose, as he conceived, from the Ja- 

 panese not being accustomed to eat the flesh of quadru- 

 peds. Of fowls, they keep only hens*. M, Laxman re- 

 quested leave to walk through the town, but this was abso- 

 lutely refused. 



The 13th of July was at length fixed for their journey to 

 the town of Matmai, two days before which M. Laxman 

 was again conducted on shore with great ceremony, and 

 spent the night in the house already mentioned. Next 

 morning he received notice that every thing was ready for 

 his departure ; two covered chairs, which in their foim had 

 a great resemblance to those of Europe, were provided for 

 him and the second officer. They were carried by four 

 men, who every half-hour were relieved by others, and who 

 showed a considerable dexterity in changing places, even 

 on lull speed, without occasioning the least stoppage. Be- 

 sides these bearers, each chair was accompanied by four do- 

 mestics; the rest of the suite rode on horses, each of which 

 was conducted by two men ; so that the whole train con- 

 sisted of 450 persons f. The road passed through the lol- 



* Kempfar, vol. i. p. 141, 145. 

 f Ktmpte:, vol. iu p. J44 10 152. 



Jewing 



