We reached Korsakovsk Post at 10 o’clock at night and dropped anchor in the depths of Aniva Bay. Here, the Shooter was supposed to get flour, groats, and salt and carry all this to two points on Sakhalin's south coast. But Korsakovsk District's commander, Ch., was away, and without him, nothing could be given us. Only upon his arrival the following day, did sailors begin loading the provisions. I took advantage of this time and, having made the necessary notations for the navigation, walked around the settlement with the administrator I— — v.

Korsakovsk Post is the southern district's principal city. Spread along the rocky shoreline amid dense greenery, it looks rather beautiful. However, only a single, main street exists there, entirely exposed to the sea and twisting up to a mountain: some hillocks and greenery extending out from it are all there is. Having glanced down the road at the church, prison, and other prominent buildings, I went as a guest to the Japanese.

Several junks were in the shipping lane. One was of an old type now difficult to find in Japan itself. It's said the Japanese government prohibits its subjects from traveling in such dangerous ships. This very one had been selected for our inspection. Following the example of the Japanese who swarmed the junk, we climbed through a small porthole into this monster, built out of small planks, with a raised stern and a dragon on the bow, and found ourselves in a room strewn with mats. Upon our arrival, they became very busy and undertook to treat us to tea and rice candies. That room, or stateroom, in which we sat on our haunches Japanese-style, was filled with many yellow, red, and black lacquered side-cabinets. All were collapsible, moveable, and stuffed with various provisions.

We had still to visit the Japanese consul, living amid a beautiful garden on the city's edge. At his place we were presented a document that invited the Japanese to help us transport the provisions to Tikhmenev Post.

We went to sea that evening. My earlier watches had been from noon to midnight, but now they were from 8 o’clock to 12 o’clock, morning and night. The sea was calm and the weather generally favorable for my navigation work.