or thought that he had been shabbily treated, and went away
angry, reproaching the Dutch for his failure. His anger against the
Japanese was shown in a hostile fashion. In 1805 he sent out two small
vessels, whose crews landed on the island of Saghalien, plundered a
Japanese settlement there, carried off some prisoners, and left behind a
written statement that this had been done to revenge the slights put
upon the Russian ambassador.

This violence was amply repaid by the Japanese. How they did so we have
now to tell. In 1811 Captain Golownin, an intelligent and educated
officer of the Russian navy, was sent in command of the sloop-of-war
Diana to explore the Kurile Islands. These belonged to Japan, and were
partly settled. At the south end of Kunashir, one of these islands, was
a Japanese settlement, with a garrison. Here Golownin, having landed
with two officers, four men, and an interpreter, was invited into the
fort. He entered unsuspectingly, but suddenly found himself detained as
a prisoner, and held as such despite all the efforts of the Diana to
obtain his release.

The prisoners were at once bound with small cords in a most painful way,
their elbows being drawn behind their backs until they almost touched,
and their hands firmly tied together, the cords being also brought in
loops around their breasts and necks. A long cord proceeded from these
fastenings and was held by a Japanese, who, if an attempt were made to
escape, had only to pull it to bring the elbows together with great pain
and to tighten the loop around the neck so as nearly to strangle the
prisoner. Their ankles and knees were also firmly bound.

In this condition they were conveyed to Hakodate, in the island of
Yeso, a distance of six or seven hundred miles, being carried, on the
land part of the route, in a sort of palanquin made of planks, unless
they preferred to walk, in which case the cords were loosened about
their legs. At night they were trussed up more closely still, and the
ends of their ropes tied to iron hooks in the wall. The cords were drawn
so tight as in time to cut into the flesh, yet for six or seven days
their guards refused to loosen them, despite their piteous appeals,
being fearful that their prisoners might commit suicide, this being the
favorite Japanese method in extremity.

The escort consisted of nearly two hundred men. Two Japanese guides,
changed at each new district, led the way, carrying handsomely carved
staves