DASTARDLY ATTACKS 
249 
and next day got everything on board, the weather 
remaining fine. Practically the only damage suffered 
was the loss of our false keel. 
On July 23, 24, and 25 we hunted off the Kam¬ 
chatka coast, getting five more otters and a seal. 
We went on shore twice, and shot three large bears. 
The day after leaving Robben Island, one of the 
Chinese sailors died of beri-beri. As his com¬ 
panions wished to take his remains back to China, 
I ran over to Rashau Island to let them burn the 
body. They made two attempts, but could not do 
it properly, so his remains were buried after all. 
About the middle of August, the prospects of 
making a season not improving, and my hunters, 
who had had no previous experience, showing no 
progress either in the running of an otter or in their 
shooting, all that we got falling to my own rifle, 
I resolved to return to Yokohama, which we reached 
on the 30th of the same month. On the way down 
another Chinese sailor died suddenly, also of beri¬ 
beri, and was buried at sea. After what had hap¬ 
pened, I was not surprised to find that the Chinese 
sailors had resolved to prosecute the captain and 
mate. Against the former they laid charges of 
murder and assault, and against the mate, of assault. 
The men declared that the deaths of the two sailors 
were caused by the cruelty of the captain. The 
accused were arrested and committed for trial. The 
charge of murder fell through ; the men had un¬ 
doubtedly died of beri-beri, but it is possible their 
deaths were hastened by harsh treatment. The 
charges for assault were then heard, and after two 
had been disposed of the Judge refused to hear 
more, as one of the accused had already run the risk 
