In fact, I was to go tearing down against the monsoon in _Salamis_, with her worn-out boilers, when my relief could come up in half the time, before the wind; and then I was to have the pleasure of crossing the Red Sea in the month of September. As there are two routes, and no detriment to the Service thereby, I determined on waiting at Yokohama. The time has come at last, my reign nearly over, and I have no cause to complain; if it were not for the unjust withholding the G.C.B., I should proceed on my way home rejoicing. We got under way yesterday in the _Sylvia_ at 10 A.M. Our party consisted of Madame and Mademoiselle Bertrand, Raby, Loreiro, Miller, and ourselves; everything successful but the weather, which continued rainy and misty. We anchored off the bay at 11, and having made an excellent breakfast, proceeded in steam launch. Another boat brought the ladies’ chairs, coolies, and those who liked to come. The channel, except at high water, when you can make a straight course, is difficult. However, with the assistance of a native pilot, we got into the tea-house at Kanasawa without accident, beyond occasionally touching the bottom. In less than a quarter of an hour, pedestrians, horsemen (our ponies had been sent on early from Yokohama), and chairs were fairly under way. The scenery beautiful, and in spite of the weather, and slow progress of chairs over slippery ground, everybody was cheery, Madame Bertrand walking the whole seven miles. “Die Boots” was there in all his grandeur, and a striking sight it is. Since I saw it two years ago, the inside has been desecrated with the usual Anglo-Saxon names; in fact, there is a native who makes a small fortune by attending with a ladder, brush, and red paint for all those who wish to immortalize their lady-love’s or their own interesting names! Our coolies had to “chow-chow,” and the afternoon was far advanced before we were on our return. The slippery paths made progress so slow that it was dark by the time we reached our boats; the tide, although falling, was still high, and with the help of our natives and the ship in the offing well lighted, we got safely on board, but too late to be back in time to entertain Sir Harry, who had promised to dine with us. We partook of Brooker’s hospitable tea, at which we made an excellent _dinner_. The _Sylvia_ under way anchored at 10.30. By 11.30 we were at home; by 12.30 at midnight we were well shaken by an earthquake! [Sidenote: Aug. 10.] _Pearl_, 21, corvette, Captain John F. Ross, arrived under sail from Hakodadi. Ross, Boxer, and Miller dined with us. Inspected _Sylvia_, in very nice order. Flag hoisted at 8 A.M. [Sidenote: Aug. 13.]