112 
IN FORBIDDEN SEAS 
officials were Satsuma men. Only a few years 
previously, in the Revolution days, they had been 
in opposite camps, and it was easy to see that the old 
antipathies had not altogether disappeared, although 
kept under by the wonderful self-restraint inherent 
in the Japanese character. 
On several occasions, when he was a bit “ jolly,” 
the Governor twitted me about the incident on 
board the Capron related in a former chapter, when 
the two officials (they were Satsuma men) were sent 
flying over the back of the seat in the Capron's cabin. 
He would stand up, give a heave first with his right 
arm and shoulder, then with his left, grunting at the 
same time, and then roar with laughter, saying : 
“ Abunai Snow-san abunai.”* It appeared to amuse 
him considerably, but I must say I felt somewhat 
ashamed of the incident. 
The theft of 1,500 brass cartridges and 20 pounds 
of powder was another episode of our stay at 
Yetorup. 
We arrived in Nemuro on the 19th. On the 
20th the Government officials put us all through the 
usual amount of questioning, and then requested us 
to make, in writing, formal application to be sent 
to Hakodate. On the 21st, in order to provide food 
for us Europeans, they slaughtered a bullock. They 
attempted to kill the poor beast by striking it on the 
head with a topping mall, which infuriated the 
animal, and they finally had to shoot it. On the 
22nd more inquisitorial proceedings took place af 
the Government office, when I signed a paper to the 
effect that I would not hold them responsible for 
the wreck, or any property left behind, or anything 
* “ Take care, take care, Mr. Snow.” 
