86
RUSSIAN DESCENTS IN SAGHALIEN AND
ITORUP IN THE YEARS 1806 AND 1807.
BY
W. G. ASTON, Esq.
Read before the Asiatic Society of Japan,
on the 7th June, 1873.
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The following account of Russian descents in Saghalien and Itorup has been prepared from a collection of Japanese manuscripts comprising the private correspondence of officials on duty at Hakodate, together with proclamations and other official documents.
The causes of these Russian descents are to be looked for in the events of the previous four or five years. The Russians had already made several attempts to open trade with Japan. Applications of this kind which were made to the Japanese authorities in Yezo were always referred to Nagasaki, and at last an embassy was sent there bearing a letter from the Czar to the Tycoon in which a Commercial Treaty was asked for. The Russians were delayed at Nagasaki for several months awaiting the answer of the Japanese Government. It was to the effect that they could by no means deviate from their ancient policy of seclusion, and was accompanied by an order from the Government of Nagasaki to quit that port immediately.
The irritation felt by the Russians at the ill-success of their mission must have been increased by an event which took place about the same time. Fourteen Russians who had ventured to land on the island of Itorup in hopes of
