d region. When one has seen it,
he is no longer astonished that the Japanese reproduce with such
affection on their varnished wares, porcelain, cloth, paper,
sword-ornaments, &c., the form of their highest, stateliest, and also
grimmest mountain. For the number of the men who have perished by
its eruptions is reckoned by hundreds of thousands, and if tradition
speaks truth the whole mountain in a far distant antiquity was
formed in a single night. Before we enter Yedo Bay we pass a
volcano, active during last year, situated on the volcanic island
Oshima, known in Japanese history as the place of exile of several
of the heroes in the many internal struggles of the country.

While we sailed, or more correctly, steamed--for we had still
sufficient coal remaining to permit the engine to be used--up the
Bay of Yedo, the coasts were for the most part concealed with mist,
so that the summit of Fusiyama and the contours of the shore only
now and then gleamed forth from the fog and cloud. The wind besides
was against us, on which account it was 9.30 in the evening of the
2nd September before we could anchor in the haven that had been
longed-for for such a length of time. I immediately hastened on
land, along with Captain Palander, in order to send home a telegram
across Siberia about the fortunate issue of the voyage of the
_Vega_. At the telegraph station I was informed that the Siberian
line was interrupted by inundations for a space of 600 versts, and
that the telegram must therefore be sent by India, whereby the cost
was nearly doubled. The telegraph officials also made difficulties
about taking the foreign gold coin of various kinds which I had
about me. Fortunately the latter difficulty was immediately removed
by the accidental presence of the Russian consul, Mr. PELIKAN, while
I was treating with the telegraph officials. When he heard that it
concerned the sending home of a telegram from the much-talked-of
_Vega_ expedition, he immediately offered to arrange the affair
until I had time to operate on the letter of credit I carried with
me from Messrs. James Dickson &c. Co. of Gothenburg. Soon after I met
with the Swedish consul, Mr. VAN OORDT, who gave us a large parcel
of letters from home. It was very gladly received by most of us, as,
so far as I know, it did not bring the thirty members of the
expedition a single unexpected sorrowful message. I got, however,
soon after landing, an unpleasant piece of news, viz that th