68 CUREENTS AND TYPHOONS. 



some unknown cause made too much of a northerly 

 course. After going about ten miles in this direction, 

 and seeing nothing like our wished-for port, we again 

 stopped, and began to think the place must have 

 suddenly disappeared. Just then a fishing-boat was 

 caught sight of. Here was a chance. We made at 

 once for the boat, but on seeing us, the occupants 

 made off as fast as oars and sails would take them. A 

 regular chase ensued, which resulted, of course, in the 

 speedy capture of the fishing craft. The scene that 

 then took place was ridiculous. Not a soul on board 

 could speak a single word of Japanese; and the two 

 natives were in such a state of terror that signs and 

 gesticulations were quite useless. Nothing would 

 induce them to leave the boat. A British tar was sent 

 down to carry one up, but he could not even hold 

 the slippery half-dressed native. A rope was then 

 attempted to be got round him, but that also failed. At 

 last some more sagacious being tried a little rum and 

 water, which had the most instantaneous effect : the 

 Japanese was on board the ship at once. By repeating 

 the word Nagasaki with much energy, we got our 

 captured pilot to understand what we wished him to 

 do. He took us straight for the entrance of the 

 harbour, which turned out to be forty miles to the 



