a hollow, and tearing up others from different places, we fixed them into the ground, and crept in beneath them. Unfortunately, there was neither water nor snow upon this hill, and we suffered excessively from thirst. On the other side of the hollow and opposite to us, was a path leading to a wood, along which, we frequently observed men and packhorses going backwards and forwards, and saw them so plainly, that, had the former been our acquaintances, we should have found no difficulty in recognising them. They did not observe us, though a glance directed towards that part of the hollow in which we had taken refuge, would inevitably have betrayed us.

We were busily employed during the whole of this day. We stitched our shirts together for the purpose of forming two sails, and made all the necessary appurtenances out of the ropes and pieces of woollen cloth which we had carried off with us. There was a village at no great distance from our hiding place, and as evening approached, we observed that one of the vessels which were sailing along the coast, anchored near it. We resolved, therefore, in case the wind should prove favourable to board the vessel that very night.

At sunset we descended the hill, and proceeded towards the shore; but as we approached the vessel, we heard a noise and the sound of voices on board. We, therefore, withdrew, intending to wait until the dead of the night before we attempted the execution of our enterprise; but we soon discovered that the vessel

was weighing anchor, and that the noise was occasioned by that labour. Our design was therefore frustrated, and we pursued our course along the shore.

We had this night many more obstacles to contend with than on the preceding. The hollows were more numerous and deeper, and we frequently found it necessary to wade through streams. Towards midnight, we arrived at a village of considerable size. We at first wished to pass along the principal street, but we found it extremely long, and we, besides, heard the guards striking the hour with their boards. We then proposed going round the outside of the village, but the kitchen gardens were so large, that we must have made a very considerable circuit; we, therefore, proceeded across the gardens, and left traces of our footsteps behind us, which must have been remarkable, on account of their size. On the shore we observed several large fires, and, at first, were at a loss to conjecture what was meant by them. We imagined they were intended as watch-fires for the soldiers, but we soon discovered that they were signals for the vessels which were sailing past the coast, for they were lighted up immediately upon lanterns being hoisted on board the ships.

On the 29th of April, the morning dawn drove us to the adjoining heights. At sunrise we found ourselves on the summit of a high and barren hill, which af forded us no place of refuge. We perceived on every side footpaths, along which the inhabitants passed from the villages to the forests. We, therefore, turned

to

to the opposite side, and entered a deep woody valley, in which there was a brook: we seated ourselves in a concealed place, and kindled a fire to dry our clothes and warm us, for the weather was extremely cold and windy; and having gathered some wild garlic and water-angelica, we cooked and eat it. These herbs were, however, none of the most palatable, and without the addition of other food, such as a handful of beans or rice, we could not possibly have eaten them. I lost all appetite, though I drank considerable quantities of water wherever it was to be found. We now began to consider how we should furnish ourselves with provisions; and our situation rendered it necessary that we should search for a convenient place in the forest, where we might repose and recover our strength, which, owing to want of sustenance, and excessive fatigue, was nearly exhausted. Unfortunately for us, the hills at a certain distance from the shore were completely barren; and, at every three wersts, there were villages, whose inhabitants were, during the day, continually going backward and forward to the forest. In the day-time, it was, therefore, impossible to conceal ourselves close to the shore, and we were obliged before sunrise, to hasten across the hills into the forest, and when night approached again to direct our weary steps towards the sea. When we reached the beach, we were usually so overcome with fatigue, that we were scarcely able to move along. We wished to procure a supply of provisions, but we determined that nothing

but the most urgent necessity should induce us to resort to mea. sures of violence, which might irritate the Japanese, and give them reason to guard their coasts more strictly. Our great object was to obtain, as speedily as possible, possession of a vessel, confident that it would, according to the Japanese custom, be plentifully supplied with provisions and fresh water. We likewise resolved, when we should be passing through the villages, to search for the spot where the Japanese lay out their fish to dry, or, if possible, to catch two or three horses in the fields, carry them into the forest, and kill them and live upon their flesh.

At sunset, we quitted our hiding place, and proceeded, as usual, to grope our way to the coast. The obstacles which we before had to contend with were now increased; the valleys were deeper than any we had hitherto met with, the rivulets flowed with violence, and in wading through them the water frequently rose above our waists: in addition to this, the rain poured in tor. rents, so that we found it impossible to lie down on the grass to rest.

We this night encountered two adventures. Close to the shore, at some distance from us, we beheld a flame, which, however, suddenly vanished at our approach. On reaching the spot where we had seen it, we discovered an extremely high rock, but nei ther hole nor hut from which flame could have issued. It was, perhaps, merely the effect of illusion.

We now descended into a deep valley,

valley, whence we had to ascend to the level summit of a hill, by a steep, winding, and well beaten foot path, when we met with an accident which not a little distressed us. Mr. Chlebnikoffslipped his foot and fell into a hole. We once heard him stop, but he again rolled further down, and at length we knew not what had become of him. He returned no answer to our questions, and we dared not call loudly, as there were villages within hearing of us. The night was so extremely dark, that no object could be recognized at the distance of ten paces. We tied our girdles together, and fastening the one end about Wassiljeff, let him down into the hole into which Mr. Chlebnikoff had fallen. We lowered him gradually as far as the length of our united sashes would admit, and then drew him up again. Wassiljeff informed us, that, notwithstanding the depth to which he had descended, he could not discover the extent of the hole; and that he called Mr. Chlebnikoff, but received no answer. We, therefore, resolved to remain on the spot until daylight, and then to lower another of our party into the hole, to ascertain whether Mr. Chlebnikoff was yet living.

We remained, for two hours, in a state of the most painful uncertainty respecting the fate of our worthy companion. We at length heard a rustling among the grass, and, on looking round, to our astonishment, beheld Mr. Chlebnikoff. He had first rolled down about two fathoms from the surface, when something stopped him, and he endeavoured to climb up again; he, however,

slipped a second time, and fell perpendicularly into a pit, to the depth of four fathoms. Fortunately, there were no stones at the bottom of the pit, but he was, notwithstanding, severely bruised. He, at length, succeeded in climbing up the side of the hole, and reached the spot where he surprised us by his unexpected appearance. After having rested for a short time, he again accompanied us on our journey, although he felt severe pain in every part of his body.

Even now, I never look back without horror upon the frightful gulphs and huge rocks of Matsmai, and millions of money would not tempt me to travel over them again, even in the open day. Whilst we were ascending steep eminences, and beheld beneath us on every side nothing but masses of rock and torrents, we were frequently obliged to hold by small bushes, without being certain whether they might not be too weak or decayed. Had any of them given way, those who were trusting to their feeble support must have been precipitated into the abyss below, and dashed to pieces. A loose stone projecting from a rock was frequently our only reliance. But Heaven watched over us, and excepting Mr. Chlebnikoff's fall, no serious accident occurred. Our desperate situation made us disregard every danger. We climbed up the steepest rocks without ever thinking on death, and with as much indifference as if we had been proceeding along a level road. My only wish was, in case an accident should occur to me, that it might be a decisive

one,

one, that my fall might be from such an immense height, as would put a speedy end to my suffering.

Before sunrise on the 30th of April, we proceeded towards the hills, and entered a wood, where we stationed ourselves not far from the road. We dared not kindle a fire, though we should have found it extremely accept able, for the rain, which still continued with violence, had soaked our clothes completely through. We lay down close to each other, and covered ourselves over with our sails. In the course of the day, my companions ate some portion of their store of provisions, but I had lost all appetite for food, though I still suffered severely from thirst.

When night set in we again directed our course towards the shore. In all the villages through which we passed we neither found a good boat nor saw any fish laid out to dry. Either the fishing season had not commenced, or the fish had been removed into houses during the night. We saw several horses in the fields, and endeavoured to catch one, but they were all so extremely wild that we found it impossible. This night we descended down the side of a steep hill, for the purpose of proceeding to the shore; we had, however, scarcely got half way, when we found that we were advancing straight upon a village. In the dark we missed the footpath, and mistook a heap of straw for a part of the declivity. We had no sooner set our feet upon it than we rolled down, and unexpectedly found ourselves in front of a house and barn. A dog

rushed out upon us, but we calmly proceeded on our way, though we were doubtless observed by two men who came out with lanterns.

We all suffered severely from thirst, and never passed a brook without taking hearty draughts of water. But immediately after I drank water, I felt myself affected with nausea, and the saliva flowed from my mouth. In the course of half an hour, however, I was usually so overcome with thirst, that on hearing the murmuring of a rivulet at a distance, 1 promised myself a speedy relief, and redoubled my pace in order to reach it quickly, but as soon as I had taken a draught of water the nausea returned, and I was thus alternately a martyr to thirst and sickness, and could eat nothing.

On the first of May we rested on a declivity, by the side of a rivulet, in a thick wood, near which there was a village built on a sandy point of land. We saw several horsemen and foot passengers cross the stream, on the outside of the wood, and people passing along a road near us.

We were, therefore, obliged to remain the whole day without fire. At night we again departed, but as we met several men with lanterns, we were obliged to hide ourselves behind the trees until they passed by. On approaching close to a village we heard the hours striking, and, of course, were pretty certain that the place had a guard of soldiers, who, as it was not perfectly dark, might discover us: we, therefore, determined to halt. In the meantime we observed a mare tied to

a tree,

a tree, in a meadow near the village. We determined to carry her off, and had already cut the rope, when a foal suddenly sprang up, ran about, and neighed loudly. We found it impossible to catch it, and were obliged to run off and leave the mare behind, lest the noise should alarm the Japanese. We returned a short time afterwards, recollecting that the milk of the mare would be extremely acceptable to us; but the sailor, who set about milking her, received so severe a kick, that we thought it prudent to have nothing more to do with her.

When it grew darker we proceeded along the strand, and came close to a village, from which the dogs rushed out upon us. We were afraid lest the barking of these animals should attract the attention of the Japanese, who would immediately have perceived us, and we, accordingly, sat down behind a heap of sand. The dogs then stood still and growled, but no sooner did we attempt to rise than they flew at us, and by their barking compelled us to resume our station. We were thus obliged to remain in the same spot for the space of half an hour, the dogs having by that time left us; we started up and passed through the village without any further interruption.

Soon after, as we were passing through another village, we observed a boat in the water, close to the shore, and a tent near it. We advanced to inspect the boat, but Schkajeff, hoping to find something eatable in the tent, thrust in his hand, and grasped the head of a man who was sleeping there. The man roared out

loudly, and fearing that the noise might alarm the inhabitants of the village, and being, besides, uncertain whether the boat would contain us all, we ran off and concealed ourselves behind some stones. After a short time we dispatched two of our party to take a survey of the boat, but there was a man seated in it, who was looking round him on every side: we, therefore, thought it best to depart.

Before we reached the other extremity of this village, we observed a large boat which had been dragged ashore as far as the houses. On examination we found that it was well adapted to our purpose, but it was so far from the water that we despaired of getting it afloat, and we therefore proceeded onwards. We soon after discovered, under a shed on the shore, a very large boat; it was without sails, but was furnished with every other necessary appurtenance, and had even small buckets, in which we might have laid in a supply of fresh water. The wind and weather were moreover favourable. Unfortunately, however, the boat lay with one side towards the water, and we must consequently have turned it in order to get it afloat, but to accomplish this object we found our strength insufficient. either the head or the stern been towards the water we would soon have launched it; and after carrying off a supply of provisions from one of the houses, would have put to sea. But this was impossible; we therefore contented ourselves with merely taking a watering pot which we found in the boat, and which

Had

we

thought