The coaling of the _Salamis_ painfully slow; lazy coolies passing the coal on board in small baskets holding less than a shovelful each. Operation completed by 3 P.M. Having laid in a stock of sheep and poultry, started for Japan. Markham informed me that a Russian corvette had been at Chefoo with a live bear and a lion’s skin for me from friend Etholin of Vladivostock. They went on to Shanghai, where I hope they will be put into the _Juno_. [Sidenote: June 4.] Got through the Simonoseki Straits before dark. Once more the inland sea; at no time of the year can it look more beautiful; crops ripening and the green grass and trees in all the freshness of spring. At 4.30 entered the far-famed whirlpool passage, but it was time of neap tides and the flood was within an hour of its making, which it does two hours after high water. It required close watching and quick helm to prevent being slewed broadside on by the “Chow-Chow” water. It is safest to pass through with the current. [Sidenote: Yokohama, June 6.] By daylight we were standing into the Bay of Yedo; _Rodney_, _Ocean_, _Adventure_, and _Cormorant_ made their numbers. We passed under the stern of the old _Rodney_, where the band and officers were on the poop to welcome the old Chief. Steamed ahead of the stately _Ocean_ and came to before 8 A.M. Found the wife and children well and happy at the Legation House. Sir Harry Parkes absent in Yedo, but everything done to make us feel at home. Denison had come out by mail, at his own expense, to take command of _Cormorant_, as her paying-off was to be here. Flag hoisted on board _Rodney_. [Sidenote: Flag in _Rodney_, June 7.] The French commodore and captains, as well as Dutch and American senior officers, visited _Rodney_. All the heads of departments had already visited, and been attentive to the wife on her arrival. [Sidenote: June 8.] Accompanied by Heneage, returned calls of the French, American, and Netherlands commanders; the two former giving me a personal salute. The small arms men and marines from _Rodney_ and _Ocean_, 4047 tons, Captain Stanhope, landed and went through their evolutions, to the admiration of Colonel Norman of the 9th Regiment (The Norfolk). The field-pieces were beautifully worked. I was mounted on Sir Harry Parkes’s charger, which, however, refused to stand fire. I have had the house built snug and substantial, easy to be got rid of! My ponies Tiu and Ko in the Legation stable, where the poor old grey given me by Mrs. Fitzroy is dying. [Sidenote: June 10.] Pouring with rain and a gale blowing. We dined with the Marshalls, plodding there in chairs, ankle deep in mud. The Normans, Mrs. Alt, Adams, Stanhope, and Helen were of the party; the dinner, as usual, excellent, wines to match. Drank the health of Georgie West, her birthday. [Sidenote: June 11.]