The ship’s seine was brought and cast outside the mouth of the river, when, in a few hauls, some five hundred salmon were taken--more than enough for the ship’s company and some to salt besides. [Sidenote: July 18.] We weighed and shifted under sail to a bay called Pilyawo. [Sidenote: July 19.] Being the Sabbath we remained quiet, with the exception of sending a boat to communicate with a German vessel that took Mr. Esche on to Castries Bay. [Sidenote: July 20.] Joined by _Rattler_, and the following day we sailed in company. [Sidenote: July 22.] Came to in Tonquiera Bay, _Rattler_ going to Duè to fill up coal. [Sidenote: July 24.] Weighed at daylight and stood to Castries Bay, where we came to in the evening, finding _Salamis_. Heard by her of the sad death at Nagasaki of poor George Fitzroy. I cannot say that it was quite unexpected, almost every one but his charming wife felt he could not recover. On our departure for the Russian coast I had left our clever surgeon Hill to look after him. In the Crimea I attended the deathbed of the elder brother, Augustus. Just as I arrived at Sierra Leone in February 1861, Arthur Fitzroy, in command of the _Falcon_, died of fever. As children at the Cape we had all four played together. _Rattler_ rejoining in the night, shifted flag to _Salamis_. It was a gratification to see young Harry Stephenson in all the pride of a “first command.” On Sunday I dined on board his ship, and slept on board the _Salamis_, preparatory to a start for Nicholai, pilots having been most willingly provided by the officials. [Sidenote: Flag in _Salamis_, July 27.] Little to remark going up. Channel muddy and intricate, with the distant shore of Saghalien scarcely visible to the eastward. There were buoys at some of the angles, and beacons on the land to the westward, to place which the pine-trees had been cleared away. Our leadsmen frequently had “1/4 less 2,” but we never stopped. Snow-white fish, not porpoises--they said, were tumbling about: round snouts, blow-hole on back of head, 7 or 8 feet long, not fit for food. As we neared the entrance, occasional fishing villages were seen, with no end of salmon drying, dogs and dirt to any amount. CHAPTER XCIII FLAG IN _SALAMIS_ [Sidenote: 1868. Flag in _Salamis_, July 27. Nicholai.]