66 
IN FORBIDDEN SEAS 
How anyone having the slightest knowledge of ships 
could have suggested such a thing I cannot imagine, 
but, as I was then absolutely ignorant of what ought 
to be done in such matters, I could only bow to the 
decision of those who, I thought, should know. The 
greatest fault with the vessel was that the frames on 
both sides, through which the fore chain-plates were 
bolted, were more or less rotten, so that when the 
rigging was “ set up ” the bolts “ gave 55 in the 
rotten wood. This caused the outside planking to 
open slightly, so that the oakum came out. Before 
leaving Shikotan chains were passed round the 
schooner abreast of the foremast, under the keel, and 
across the deck, and wedged up taut, and the fore¬ 
shrouds set up to them ; this, of course, took the 
strain off the chain-plates, preventing any further 
opening up of the planking. I knew afterwards that 
the old craft thus fixed would have been perfectly 
safe for the voyage back to Hakodate, distant about 
500 miles; but the fact was, the old man had lost his 
nerve, and the others, who ought to have known 
better, didn’t care. 
The authorities stored all our gear in go-downs, 
and provided us with horses and two men to take 
charge of us on our overland journey of 500 miles 
to Hakodate. We left in two parties, one a day 
ahead of the other, one horse with the first party 
being loaded with our otter-skins. Although horses 
were provided for all, I decided to walk. The 
stations were from 10 to 12 ri (25 to 30 miles) apart. 
The first day I walked from Nemuro to Hachijiu- 
schibets, where we remained the night. Next morn¬ 
ing we started for Hamanaka ; the road lay through 
the forest, a mere track. The mounted part of the 
