''J2 TFIE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [chap. xvi. 



in a far distant antiquity was formed in a single night. Before 

 we enter Yedo Bay we pass a volcano, active during last year, 

 situated on the volcanic island Oshima, known in Japanese 

 history as the place of exile of several of the heroes in the many 

 internal struggles of the country. 



While we sailed, or more correctly, steamed — for we had still 

 sufficient coal remaining to permit the engine to be used^ — up 

 the Bay of Yedo, the coasts were for the most part concealed 

 with mist, so that the summit of Fusiyama and the contours of 

 the shore only now and then gleamed forth from the fog and 

 cloud. The wind besides was against us, on which account it was 

 9.30 in the evening of the 2nd September before we could 

 anchor in the haven that had been longed-for for such a length 

 of time. I immediately hastened on land, along with Captain 

 Palander, in order to send home a telegram across Siberia 

 about the fortunate issue of the voyage of the Ver/a. At 

 the telegraph station I was informed that the Siberian line was 

 interrupted by inundations for a space of 600 versts, and that 

 the telegram must therefore be sent by India, whereby the cost 

 was nearly doubled. The telegraph officials also made difficulties 

 about taking the foreign gold coin of various kinds which I had 

 about me. Fortunately the latter difficulty was immediately 

 removed by the accidental presence of the Russian consul, Mr. 

 Pelikan, while I was treating with the telegraph officials. When 

 he heard that it concerned the sending home of a telegram from 

 the much-talked-of Vega expedition, he immediately offered to 

 arrange the affair until I had time to operate on the letter 

 of credit I carried with me from Messrs. James Dickson & Co. 

 of Gothenburg. Soon after I met with the Swedish consul, 

 Mr. VAN OoRDT, who gave us a large parcel of letters from 

 home. It was very gladly received by most of us, as, so far 

 as I know, it did not bring the thirty members of the expedition 

 a single unexpected sorrowful message. I got, however, soon 

 after landing, an unjjleasant piece of news, viz. that the steamer 

 A. E. Nordcnskidld, which Mr. Sibiriakoff had sent to Behring's 

 Straits and the Lena to our relief, had stranded on the east coast 

 of Yesso. The shipwreck fortunately had not been attended 

 with any loss of human life, and the vessel lay stranded on 

 a sandbank in circumstances which made it jirobable that it 

 would be got off without too great cost. 



As the report of our arrival spread, I was immediately waited 

 upon by various deputations with addresses of welcome, invitations 

 to fetes, clubs, &c. A series of entertainments and festivities 

 now began, which occupied a great part of the time we remained 

 in this splendid and remarkable country. Perhaps a sketch 

 of these festivities may yield a picture of Japan during the state 

 of transition which still prevails there, and which in a decade 



