62 NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



took it down at the time in my note-book. I may add 

 that, like most educated Russians, the Lieutenant spoke 

 excellent English. 



"The Diana frigate, of which I was an officer, was 

 commanded by Admiral Pontaveen. We anchored on 

 the 23rd of December 1855, in the harbour of Sinoda, in 

 Japan. We had on board about 500 of a crew. About 

 half-past nine in the morning we were surprised to see 

 the boats afloat which we had sent on shore, and which 

 had been all drawn up on the beach. But, immediately, 

 our surprise was still greater, in seeing wooden houses 

 floating past us 1 



" We guessed at once that an earthquake beneath and 

 around us was taking place. Our conjectures were, alas I 

 too true. It proved to be a very fearful earthquake, and 

 continued for seven hours, or until half-past four in the 

 afternoon. During this dreadful time our frigate was 

 swept out of and into the bay by the sea. Anchors were 

 of no use, for land and sea were changing places. We were 

 now on the ground, and the next moment afloat, and 

 again on shore, swinging back and forward, guns break- 

 ing loose, killing some, and terrifying all. Our keel was 

 torn off and our rudder lost. At last we were suddenly 

 swept up from the outer bay into an inner harbour. 

 Having reached it, we were seized by the waves as by a 

 whirlpool, and the frigate spinned round and round forty- 

 fi.ve times in thirty minutes ! 



" It was awful, more especially as nothing whatever 

 could be done to save us. No one could guess what the 



