THE KURILSKY AINU 
17 
failure from the start. When the boats left Tokyo, 
big crowds with flags flying and bands playing gave 
them an enthusiastic send-off. But trouble arose 
before long, as well it might. Rough seas, sea¬ 
sickness, and general discomfort, soon knocked the 
enthusiasm out of most of the party. Some of the 
boats got as far as Nambu, I believe (about 400 miles 
from Tokyo by sea), though not without quarrels, 
accidents, and some loss of life. It ended in the 
Government sending the remnant up in a steamer, 
and they settled down in the old deserted villages 
on Shumshir, near the northern entrance of Little 
Kuril Strait. Later on some of the party were 
transferred to Shiashikotan, but one winter on those 
inhospitable shores was too much for them : all were 
found dead when the Government vessel called there 
the following spring. They are supposed to have 
died of inanition, so to speak. Some of those left 
on Shumshir also died. 
It was not an uncommon end for Japanese in 
these cold climates. I have been told that in former 
years many Japanese who wintered in Saghalin 
succumbed in the same way. They remain in their 
huts day and night, mope, lose all energy, and 
gradually “ peter out,” dying of nothing in particular. 
Gunji, who stayed on Shumshir, was an energetic 
worker. I was told he kept his people on the go at 
something or other all through the winter months, 
and so probably saved their lives. They made a 
poor showing, however. I met Gunji in Little Kuril 
Strait in June, 1893, and at that time they had not 
found out where to fish for cod even, although that 
fish abounded in the waters around the island. 
Gunji said they could catch no fish, and so were 
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