VII
It proved to be the most delicate and savory repast that had excitedtheir appetites this side of Europe. The friars had their consolations,and even Dona Ignacia Arguello was less gastronomic than FatherLandaeta. Rezanov, whose epicurianism had survived a year of driedfish and the coarse luxuries of his managers, suddenly saw all life inthe light of the humorist, and told so many amusing versions of hisadventures in the wilderness, and even of his misadventure with Japan,that the priests choked over their wine, and Langsdorff, who had not agrain of humor, swelled with pride in his chance relationship to a manwho seemed able to manipulate every string in the human network.
"He will succeed," he said to Davidov. "He will succeed. I almosthoped he would not, he is so indifferent--I might almost say sohostile--to my own scientific adventures. But when he is in this mood,when those cold eyes brim with laughter and ordinary humanity, I amnothing better than his slave."
Rezanov, in reply to an entreaty from Father Uria to tell them more ofhis mission and of the strange picture-book country they had neverhoped to hear of at first hand, assumed a tone of great frankness andintimacy. "We were, with astounding cleverness, treated from the firstlike an audience in a new theatre. After we had solemnly been towed bya string of boats to anchor, under the Papen mountains, all Nagasakiappeared to turn out, men, women and children. Thousands of littleboats, decorated with flags by day and colored lanterns by night, andfilled with people in gala attire, swarmed about us, gazed at usthrough telescopes, were so thick on the bay one could have traversedit on foot. The imperial sailors were distinguished by their uniformsof a large blue and white check, suggesting the pinafores of abrobdingnagian baby. The barges of the imperial princes were coveredwith blue and white awnings and towed to the sound of kettledrums andthe loud measured cries of the boatmen. At night the thousands ofilluminated lanterns, of every color and shade, the waving of fans, theincessant chattering, and the more harmonious noise that roseunceasingly above, made up a scene as brilliant as it was juvenile andabsurd. In the daytime it was more interesting, with the background ofhills cultivated to their crests in the form of terraces, varied withrice fields, hamlets, groves, and paper villas encircled with littlegardens as glowing and various of color as the night lanterns. When,at last, I was graciously permitted to have a residence on a point ofland called Megasaki, I was conveyed thither in the pleasure barge ofthe Prince of Fisi. There was place for sixty oarsmen, but as one ofthe few tokens of respect, I was enabled to record for the comfort ofthe mighty sovereign whose representative I was, the barge was towed bya long line of boats, decorated with flags, the voices of the rowersrising and falling in measured cadence as they announced to all Japanthe honor about to be conferred upon her. I sat on a chair of state inthe central compartment of the barge, and quite alone; my suitestanding on a raised deck beyond. Before me on a table, marvellouslyinlaid, were my credentials. I was surrounded by curtains of sky-bluesilk and panels of polished lacquer inwrought with the Imperial arms ingold. The awning of blue and white silk was lined with a delicate andbeautiful tapestry, and the reverse sides of the silken partitions wereof canvas painted by the masters of the country. The polished floorwas covered by a magnificent carpet woven with alarming dragons whosejaws pointed directly at my chair of state. And such an escort andsuch a reception, both of ceremony and of curiosity, no Russian hadever boasted before. Flags waved, kettledrums beat, fans were flunginto my very lap to autograph. The bay, the hills, were a blaze ofcolor and a confusion of sound. The barracks were hung with tapestriesand gay silks. I, with my arms folded and in full uniform, my featurescomposed to the impassivity of one of their own wooden gods, was thecentral figure of this magnificent farce; and it may be placed to theever-lasting credit of the discipline of courts that not one of mystaff smiled. They stood with their arms folded and their eyes on theinlaid devices at their feet.
"When this first act was over and I was locked in for the night andfelt myself able to kick my way through the flimsy walls, yet ascompletely a prisoner as if they had been of stone, I will confess thatI fell into a most undiplomatical rage; and when I found myself playedwith from month to month by a people I scorned as a grotesque mixtureof barbarian and mannikin, I was alternately infuriated, and consumedwith laughter at the vanity of men and nations."
His voice dropped from its light ironical note, and became harsh andabrupt with reminiscent disgust. "And the end of it all was failure.The superb presents of the Tsar were rejected. These presents: coatsof black fox and ermine, vases of fossil ivory and of marble, muskets,pistols, sabers, magnificent lustres, table services of crystal andporcelain, tapestries and carpets, immense mirrors, a clock in the formof an elephant, and set with precious stones, a portrait of the Tsar byMadame le Brun, damasks, furs, velvets, printed cotton, cloths,brocades of gold and silver, microscopes, gold and silver watches, acomplete electrical machine--presents in all, of the value of threehundred thousand roubles, were returned with scant ceremony to theNadeshda and I was politely told to leave.
"But the mortification was the least of my worries. The object of theembassy was to establish not only good will and friendship betweenRussia and Japan, for which we cared little, but commercial intercoursebetween this fertile country and our northeastern and barrenpossessions. It would have been greatly to the advantage of theJapanese, and God knows it would have meant much to us."
Then Rezanov having tickled the imaginations and delighted thecuriosity of the priests, began to play upon their heartstrings. Hisown voice vibrated as he related the sufferings of the servants of theCompany, and while avoiding the nomenclature and details of theirbodily afflictions, gave so thrilling a hint of their terriblecondition that his audience gasped with sympathy while experiencing noqualms in their own more fortunate stomachs.
He led their disarmed understandings as far down the vale of tears ashe deemed wise, then permitted himself a magnificent burst ofspontaneity.
"I must tell you the object of my mission to California, my kindfriends!" he cried, "although I beg you will not betray me to the otherpowers until I think it wise to speak myself. But I must have yoursympathy and advice. It has long been my desire to establish relationsbetween Russia and Spain that should be of mutual benefit to thecolonies of both in this part of the western hemisphere. I have toldyou of the horrible condition and needs of my men. They must have ashare in the superfluities of this most prodigal land. But I make noappeal to your mercy. Trade is not founded on charity. You well knowwe have much you are in daily need of. There should be a bi-yearlyinterchange." He paused and looked from one staring face to the other.He had been wise in his appeal. They were deeply gratified at beingtaken into his confidence and virtually asked to outwit the militaryauthorities they detested.
Rezanov continued:
"I have brought the Juno heavy laden, my fathers, and for thedeliberate purpose of barter. She is full of Russian and Boston goods.I shall do my utmost to persuade your Governor to give me of his cornand other farinaceous foods in exchange. It may be against your laws,and I am well aware that for the treaty I must wait, but I beg you inthe name of humanity to point out to his excellency a way in which hecan at the same time relieve our necessities and placate hisconscience."
"We will! We will!" cried Father Abella. "Would that you had come inthe disguise of a common sea-captain, for we have hoodwinked thecommandantes more than once. But aside from the suspicion and distrustin which Spain holds Russia--with so distinguished a visitor as yourexcellency, it would be impossible to traffic undetected. But theremust be a way out. There shall be! And will your excellency kindlylet us see the cargo? I am sure there is much we sadly need: cloth,linen, cotton, boots, shoes, casks, bottles, glasses, plates, shears,axes, implements of husbandry, saws, sheep-shears, iron wares--have youany of these things, Excellency?"
"All and more. Will you come to-morrow?"
"We will! and one way or another they shall be ours and you shall havebreadstuffs
for your pitiable subjects. We have as much need of Europeas you can have of California, for Mexico is dilatory and oftendisregards our orders altogether. One way or another--we have yourpromise, Excellency?"
"I shall not leave California without accomplishing what I came for,"said Rezanov.