FRUITLESS NEGOTIATIONS 
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pany wanted to send a steamer to Nemuro and 
vicinity for a load of fish, but some doubt was enter¬ 
tained as to whether it was safe to make the voyage 
at that time of year, on account of the ice. The 
captain had never been into that port, and the 
charts of the coasts thereabouts were not very 
reliable, while the insurance agents would not insure 
the cargo unless a pilot was taken. The agent 
applied to me, and I consented, for a consideration, 
it being too early for the ice to have set in, and 
therefore quite safe. On arrival I called on the old 
friends of my former visits, who were apparently 
glad to see me. The day we arrived, the captain 
and I went for a walk, dropping in on the way to 
have a peep at a large Japanese school. As we 
entered the lobby, a handsomely - dressed, good- 
looking young Japanese woman came up, and said 
in excellent English, “ Won’t you please come in 
and take a look round the school ?” and she con¬ 
ducted us round, explaining methods and pointing 
out the different classes. Whilst this was going on 
I noticed the head-master, with a black scowl on his 
countenance, looking at us out of the comers of his 
eyes. On bidding adieu to our fair conductress, she 
said : “ I shall see you again, as I am going down to 
Hakodate in your ship.” “ Only too pleased to 
have you for a passenger,” replied the captain as 
we left. 
Next day we steamed over to a fishing-village 
called Nishibets, where we loaded over a hundred 
thousand salted salmon, and then returned to 
Nemuro. Here we took on board some more cargo, 
and passengers—amongst them our fair friend and 
her servant. She was elaborately dressed, wearing 
