ADVENTURES IN THE " SNOWDROP 55 77 
out to be the Gapron Maru , belonging to the 
Kaitakushi Department of the Government, under 
whose jurisdiction Yezo and the Kuril Islands then 
were. When she got near us, she lowered two boats 
with some armed marines in each. They rowed 
towards us, but, as they were only two to our three 
boats, I pulled away, although they hailed me to let 
them on board. They put some armed men into 
our two other boats, and took them on board the 
steamer, whilst I pulled away and reached my own 
craft, becalmed some few miles up the coast. The 
Capron steamed up to the schooner, and ordered me 
to go on board ; this I refused to do unless they sent 
a boat for me, which they eventually did. 
I was ushered into the saloon, and found a sort 
of court of inquiry being held. My two friends were 
being questioned and cross-examined in the usual 
Japanese style, names, ages, residences, business, 
country, birthplace, parents, age of parents, and a 
lot of other particulars, being asked for and taken 
down. The Governor of Nemuro, a youngish man, 
was apparently in charge ; with him on board were 
the Governor of Yetorup and some other officials, 
including the two who had opened the go-downs in 
Nemuro when we had the struggle to get our belong¬ 
ings, as already related. An interpreter who spoke 
English fairly well was present. There were also 
an officer and a number of marines, and some 
Japanese coolies, besides the ship’s company. The 
captain of the Capron Maru , an American, was the 
only foreigner amongst them. He came into the 
saloon to ask our skipper about the depth of water 
in the bight (Mosquito Bay), as he wished to anchor; 
but the Governor rather brusquely told him to leave 
