300 
THEIR UNDOUBTED COWARDICE. 
blow they got out of the way even faster than they had 
got into it, and proceeded toward the ship with a caution 
that indicated the fear of there meeting a similar recep- 
tion. 
There were five mandarins in this boat, each armed 
with two swords, wlicn I raised the boat-hook; and, in- 
stead of oftbring to draw them, they tumbled one over the 
other out of reach of it in a most z/mnandarin-like style, 
and did not I'csume their stupid liaughtiuess of manner 
until clear of all possible contact. I don’t know that I 
should have been half so determined had previous expe- 
rience not stamped their class as the most arrant cowards: 
as it Avas, I returned on board and blew my trumpet as a 
man of great readiness of action. 
At this place avc saw, for the third time, the Ainu, or 
“hairy Kurile.” The first specimen was seen at Ila-ko- 
da-di, Avhci’e he had drifted as one of the crew of a coast- 
ing-junk; the second lot received a “wide berth” from 
the assistant botanist; and now they were becoming quite 
plentiful. I will, however, defer their description until 
we come to a place under the northeast point of this 
island, where we remained a day taking in wood from 
their boats, and where they literally crowded our decks 
during that occupation. 
Leaving our anchorage, after having bought some four 
cords of Avood for as many yards of broadcloth, we con- 
tinued along the coast toward Strogonoft* Bay. It had 
been the custom of those people from time immemorial 
to hurry off all ships anchoring in their Avaters by giving 
them wood, Avater, and a few provisions, gratis, and then 
telling them to go to sea at once or entail upon the 
