AN EVENTFUL VOYAGE 
225 
but which we, rightly or wrongly, think it a sign of 
weakness to show. A short, heavy wooden cross 
was planted over the grave, and the mound covered 
with heavy pieces of rock. On the cross was nailed 
a sheet of copper with the following inscription 
punched in holes on it: 
HERE LIE THE REMAINS OF 
TAKAHASHI YUKICHI 
For several years boatswain of the British schooner Nemo. Died 
on board, off the island of Paramushir, September 3, 1887, aged 
35 years. A thoroughly good all-round man, much appreciated, 
and deeply regretted by those he served and by all on board. 
Although poor Yukichi lies in an inhospitable and 
lonely part of the world, he has a magnificent head¬ 
stone to his grave in the shape of Fuss Peak, a grand 
volcanic cone close upon 7,000 feet high, much 
resembling in shape the celebrated Fujiyama of 
Japan. 
After the burial we got under way, and “ Old 
Joe,” whom I have mentioned before, who had all 
an old sailor’s superstitions, remarked to me that a 
gale would be certain to follow the boatswain’s 
death. His prediction was fulfilled: a heavy gale 
came on that night, and did some damage to our 
sails. We ran down the islands as far as Srednoy, 
but saw no otters, so I made up my mind to proceed 
to Hakodate via the La Perouse Strait, ship my 
skins, and return north again to try for some seals. 
On September 15 my boat-steerer, who had been 
laid up for some time with consumption, was found 
dead in his bunk, and was buried at sea. Con¬ 
formably with “ Old Joe’s ” superstition, another 
heavy gale succeeded, but no damage was done. 
15 
