Japan and the Japanese

476 JAPAN. A. D. 18111813.
chant continued to gain in the good opinion of his captors, whose
he so far mastered as to be able to converse in it even on
language
abstract subjects. He seemed to interest himself much in
arrang-
ing the misunderstanding between the llussian and Japanese gov-
ernments, and expressed his wish, which he said was shared by
others of his class, to see a commercial intercourse opened between
the two nations ; and it was at his suggestion that Rikord sent to
the governor of Irkutsk for a disavowal of the hostile acts of
Chwostoff.
Kachi remained in good health and spirits till the middle of
winter, when the death of two of his Japanese attendants greatly
affected him. He became melancholy and peevish, asserted that he
had the scurvy, and told the surgeon he should certainly die ; but
his real disorder was home-sickness, aggravated by apprehensions
of being detained at Okhotsk, whither Ilikord had intended to sail
before proceeding to Japan, in order to get the disavowal above
referred to. As Kachi's assistance seemed essential, Ilikord, fear-
ing lest he might die, resolved to sail direct for Japan as soon as
the vessel could be cut from the ice, a resolution by which Ka-
chi's spirits were greatly raised.
They arrived in Kunashir bay in June, 1813. The buildings
were, as formerly, concealed by striped cotton cloth, but no guns
were fired, and not a living being was to be seen. When the two
Japanese sailors were about to be sent on shore, Ilikord, somewhat
excited at their master's declining to pledge himself for their return,
bade them say to the governor, that if he prevented them from re-
turning, or sent back no information, their master should be carried
to Okhotsk, whence some ships of war should immediately come to
demand the liberation of the Russians.
" At these words," says Ilikord, " Takaytay-Kachi changed coun-
tenance, but said, with much calmness, ' Commander of the imperial
ship' he always addressed me thus on important occasions
' thou counsellest rashly. Thy orders to the governor of Kunashii
seem to contain much, but according to our laws they contain little.
In vain dost thou threaten to carry me to Okhotsk ; my men may
be detained on shore, but neither two, nor yet two thousand sailors
can answer for me Therefore I give thee previous notice that i*
will not be in thy power to take me to Okhotsk. But tell me