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350 HONDA THE SAMUKAl.
tories on land, and the Alabama sweeping our
commerce
from the seas, it looks like midnight for us.
The Americans here do not dare to send home a box
or package by one of our ships, when one appears,
which is rarely, and even our letters have to go by
way of Europe. The Southern Confederacy
is at
floodtide, just now."
" But the morning must dawn, and the tide ebb,
doctor."
" Yes ; as surely as God rules in the heavens."
" The strangest thing to me," said the captain,
" is
the strong sympathy with a Confederacy based
our British
upon African slavery which is shewn by
friends, who speak our language and are sharers
with us in the idea of liberty. The merchants out
in these eastern ports seem so ready to help Captain
Semmes. We have now been on the lookout
for the Alabama in these eastern seas for many
months, yet no word of encouragement have I had
from one of them. At Singapore, the Wyoming was
mistaken for the Alabama, and the letters sent to
me in mistake by English merchants were full of
welcome and promises of aid to the Confederate
destroyer of our commerce."
" Well, captain, the Japanese seem about going
not only into civil, but also foreign, war; and the
prince of Choshiu has provided an Alabama at hand
for you."
" Yes ; I have had orders to leave for home, and
should be justified in leaving for Philadelphia tomorrow
;
but instead, I shall start for Shimonose'ki