bound me, and then followed people bearing my litter. In the same
manner, Moor, Chleb Nikow, and the sailors, were led along, and the
procession closed with soldiers and a crowd of servants, who carried
the baggage and provisions. Each one of the latter had fastened to his
girdle a small wooden tablet, marked so as to designate to which of us
he was attached, and what was his duty. During the whole of the
journey, the Japanese preserved the same order, and the day was spent
in the following manner: At dawn we prepared to start, breakfasted,
and set out on our march. At the villages through which we passed, we
generally stopped to rest, to drink tea, and smoke tobacco. At noon we
dined. An hour after dinner, we started again, and two or three hours
before sunset halted for the night, generally in some village, or
where a garrison lay. Immediately on our arrival, we were led to the
chief's dwelling, and seated on benches, until that magnate reviewed
and mustered us. We were then taken to a house appropriated to us, and
bound fast to iron clamps. Afterwards they pulled off our boots, and
washed our feet with salt and water. We ate regularly three times a
day; in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. Our food varied very
little, consisting of rice-broth, instead of bread, with salted
radishes, instead of salt, a mess of greens, balls of pastry, or
roasted fish. Sometimes we received mushroom soup, and a hard boiled
egg. The food was not measured out to us, but each one was at liberty
to eat as much as he pleased. Our drink was generally bad tea, without
sugar, and sometimes, though rarely, beer. In this manner we were
taken to our place of destination, which was as yet unknown to us.

By degrees they loosened the ropes, which had been put round our
necks, and when, after a time, a man of higher rank took the command
of our party, he permitted our hands to be untied, so that we could
feed ourselves. Only when we were carried across some strait or river,
did they bind us so unmercifully tight, and this did not happen often,
nor last long. Our conductors were very careful of us, and carried
their caution and watchfulness so far, that for a long time they would
not suffer us to approach the shore. However, as we pleaded hard to be
allowed to do so, because we could walk so much easier on the wet
sand, they at last gave a reluctant consent, taking care to keep
between us and the water, even where they were obliged to wade i