Japan and the Japanese

THE MERCHANT'S LADY FRIEND. 47k
the ornaments with great curiosity, and expressed her admiration
by an agreeable smile. But the fair complexion of our countrywoman
seemed most of all to attract her attention. She passed her
hands over the Russian woman's face, as though she suspected it
had been painted, and, with a smile, exclaimed, ' Yoe ! yoe ! '
which
signifies good. I observed that our visitor was somewhat vain of
her new ornaments, and I held a looking-glass before her, that she
might see how they became her. The Russian lady placed herself
immediately behind her, in order to show her the difference of their
complexions, when she immediately pushed the glass aside, and said,
' Vare !
'
vare .' not good. She might herself have been called
handsome ;
her face was of the oval form, her features regular, and
her little mouth, when open, disclosed a set of shining black lack-
ered teeth. Her black eyebrows, which had the appearance of
having been pencilled, overarched a pair of sparkling dark eyes,
which were by no means deeply seated. Her hair was black, and
rolled up in the form of a turban, without any ornament, except a
few small tortoise-shell combs. She was about the middle size, and
elegantly formed. Her dress consisted of six wadded silk garments,
similar to our night-gowns, each fastened round the lower part of
the waist by a separate band, and drawn close together from the
girdle downwards. They were all of different colors, the outer one
black. Her articulation was slow, and her voice soft. Her coun-
tenance was expressive and interesting, and she was, altogether,
calculated to make a very agreeable impression. She could not be
older than eighteen. We entertained her with fine green tea and
sweetmeats, of which she ate and drank moderately. On her taking
leave, I made her some presents, with which she appeared to be
much pleased. I hinted to our countrywoman that she should
embrace her, and when the Japanese observed what was intended,
she ran into her arms, and kissed her with a smile."
The Japanese merchant, at
the commander at Kunashir,
llikord's
detailing
request, wrote a letter to
the state of affairs. No
answer was returned, and when an attempt was made to land for
water, the boats were fired upon, as was the Diana herself, when-
ever she approached the shore ;
the derision of the Russians.
but the aim was so bad as to excite
During the winter passed in Kamtschatka, the Japanese mar