8 HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 



Fortunately, the Japanese Governor was very friendly dis- 

 posed, and generously offered a godown, or fireproof 

 building, for the storage of what was preserved, Snow 

 stating his intention to return for them in another vessel. 

 The iron knees with which the old schooner had been built, 

 and to obtain which she had been burned, the Governor 

 promised with many declarations of good faith to forward 

 by junk to Hakodate at the earliest opportunity, and so, all 

 arrangements having been completed, inventories made, 

 and receipts obtained, Captain Snow presented the Governor 

 with a' new breach-loader which he had taken a great fancy 

 to, and leaving Nemoro, after a journey of five hundred 

 miles along the seaboard, occupying about twenty-six days 

 and mostly performed on horseback, captain and crew 

 arrived safely at Hakodate. 



Snow lost no time in communicating with me, giving full 

 particulars of the voyage, mishaps, and ultimate disaster, 

 adding that he had nearly paid expenses by the skins taken, 

 and, being sanguine of success with a more suitable vessel 

 and crew, expressed his determination of getting such a 

 craft put in hand without delay, so as to be ready by the 

 following spring. To his urgent request that he might be 

 joined by me in the new expedition my assent was readily 

 given. 



The shipbuilding interest in Hakodate was, and it is still 

 to be hoped is, represented by an Englishman, Mr. 

 Thompson, equally well known for geniality, kindness, and 

 generosity; a Sunderland man, moreover, whose family 

 had been for generations shipbuilders, his knowledge and 

 mechanical skill eminently qualified him to execute the 

 commission with the strictest attention to the minutest 

 detail. In the hope that this may some day meet the eye 

 of friend Thompson, this opportunity is gladly taken of 

 repeating once more our thanks, with the same sincerity 

 that they were tendered when we parted, for the many acts 

 of kindness and hospitality received by us all at the hands 

 of himself and his partner, Mr. Bewick. 



