Chap. X. PRESENTS FOR THE QUEEN. 151 
Dundas and his passengers were all anxious to 
view the beautiful scenery of which they had 
often heard, a request was sent to the authorities 
for permission and pilots, backed by the follow- 
ing powerful reasons. Her Majesty the Queen of 
Great Britain had presented a handsome steam- 
yacht to the Tycoon of Japan, and the latter 
had made a selection of lacquer-ware, paper 
screens, swords, and a variety of other articles, 
to send to Her Majesty in return. Now, although 
the good ship 4 England ’ was not a “ man of 
war,” and had no great warrior amongst her 
crew and passengers, yet she had on board the 
presents for the Queen, and on that account was 
surely entitled to all the honours of a ship of war. 
Besides, she might be wrecked if exposed to the 
stormy waters of the North Pacific Ocean, the 
presents might be damaged or lost, and that was 
an additional reason why she ought to be allowed 
to take the smooth-water passage. The propriety 
and prudence of the course suggested was perceived 
at once by the authorities, and pilots were granted 
forthwith. 
As the night was calm and clear, we steamed 
onwards slowly, and found ourselves in the morn- 
ing on the eastern side of the island of Awadji, or 
Smoto as it is called in some English charts. There 
is a passage *on the south-east side of this island, 
but in its centre is a dangerous whirlpool, which 
all mariners carefully avoid. We therefore took 
the northern passage. As daylight was breaking 
