. Three soldiers followed. Then came Captain Golownin, with a
soldier on one side, and on the other an attendant with a twig to drive
off the gnats, from whose troublesome attacks he was unable to defend
himself. Next came an officer holding the end of the rope that bound
him, followed by a party carrying his litter or palanquin. Each of the
prisoners was escorted in the same manner. In the rear came three
soldiers, and a number of servants carrying provisions and baggage.

Aside from their bonds, the captives were well treated, being supplied
with three meals a day, consisting of rice gruel, soup made of radishes
or other roots, a kind of macaroni, and a piece of fish. Mushrooms or
hard-boiled eggs were sometimes supplied.

Golownin's bitter complaints at length had the effect of a loosening of
their bonds, which enabled them to get along more comfortably. Their
guards took great care of their health, making frequent halts to rest,
and carrying them across all the streams, so that they should not wet
their feet. In case of rain they furnished them with Japanese quilted
gowns for protection. In all the villages the inhabitants viewed them
with great curiosity, and at Hakodate the street was crowded with
spectators, some with silk dresses and mounted on richly caparisoned
horses. None of the people showed any sign of malice or any disposition
to insult the prisoners, while in their journey they were cheered by
many displays of sympathy and piety.

At Hakodate they were imprisoned in a long, barn-like building, divided
into apartments hardly six feet square, each formed of thick spars and
resembling a cage. Outside were a high fence and an earthen wall. Here
their food was much worse than that on the journey. While here they were
several times examined, being conducted through the streets to a
castle-like building, where they were brought into the presence of the
governor and several other officials, who put to them a great variety of
questions, some of them of the most trivial character. A letter was also
brought them, which had been sent on shore from the Diana along with
their baggage, and which said that the ship would return to Siberia for
reinforcements, and then would never leave Japan till the prisoners were
released.

Some time afterwards the captives were removed to Matsumai, being
supplied with horses on the journey, but still to some extent fettered
with ropes. Here they were received by a greater crowd tha