188 
IN FORBIDDEN SEAS 
near the Japanese Commercial Agent’s place, an 
armed guard of soldiers being placed over them. Later 
on Flag-Lieutenant Abaza, who was attached to the 
Governor’s staff, informed me he had been deputed 
to take charge of us. He spoke English perfectly, 
and half a dozen other languages as well. He was 
one of the handsomest men I have ever seen, and was 
as genial as he was handsome. We went on shore 
with him, my skipper and two hunters being accom¬ 
modated in an unused schoolroom in the soldiers’ 
barracks ; they were not allowed to leave the en¬ 
closure unaccompanied by guards. Lieutenant Abaza 
and Mr. Dutton introduced me to the Naval and 
Military Club, where I got my meals and enjoyed 
its other privileges. A room was secured for me in 
the house of the manager of the club, and thus, 
allowing for the circumstances, I was personally very 
comfortably situated ; moreover, I soon made lots 
of friends. 
The British fleet (China Squadron) was known to 
be off the coast, and was daily expected. My Mend 
Dr. D. informed me of this, and also that the 
officials had discussed the advisability of sending us 
into the country out of the way before the British 
ships came in. He offered to take charge of a letter 
and deliver it personally to the British Admiral, if I 
wished to let him know of our situation. I wrote 
one, explaining to the Admiral what had happened, 
and asked him, as there was no British Consul or 
other representative in Vladivostock (no Consuls 
being allowed there) to whom I could apply for 
assistance, to do what he could for us. Next morning, 
the 5th, the fleet came in, consisting of the Audacious 
(flagship), Cleopatra , Curapoa , Pegasus , Daring , 
