Nagasaki, Friday, morning, 29th April 98, quarantine anchorage, “SS Rohilla”.

Yesterday was spent very quietly on board, some went ashore & had afternoon pic nic[1] tea. It was a very beautiful day. I did not go off the ship. We were, as had been usual daily, inspected: all well!

This Friday morning we were inspected at 9 o’clock, & all well, & we now are anxiously awaiting the expiry hour, viz: 3 p.m., for liberty. We passengers are promised a launch as soon as the hour comes round to take us on shore at Nagasaki so that we may view about & have the benefit of the daylight as long as it lasts. It was light up till 7:30 last night & the moon is growing, so we may hope for a fine night.

9:30 p.m., we steamed from quarantine at 2:15. We gave a hurrah when the yellow flag was being lowered. We got ashore at 3 & spent the time till 7:30, went on board & had dinner. All is very throng & noisy, discharging & also coaling. About 130 girls are doing this & the rapidity with which they hand the baskets to each other is very interesting. Ceaselessly they go at it, & silently, & it’s surprising what quantity they load into the hold this way.

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We will be leaving about 4 a.m. & I intend this to go ashore with the agents so that you may get it earlier than if left till we get to Kobe. Our passengers for Yokohama, & I think all of us are due there, will either be sent on by rail or take the steamer “Canton”, which left here 2 days ago for Kobe. She is to take our Yoko’ cargo on their [sic]. If I can possibly get to Yoko’ in the interval between arriving & leaving Kobe I shall go. Most of the passengers are going on by the Empress steamers to Vancouver & she leaves Yoko’ on the 6th May so they, like me, won’t have much time to view Japan.

Now I will finish by wishing you & all good night & God bless you all & be with us till we meet again.

Kiss my lovely Comely & tell him his father often thinks about him, & that he knows he will be well cared for with two loving aunties & a loving brother.[2]

“Good night”; “Good night”; “Good night”.

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[1] Written with the space in the original journal.  The English word Picnic comes from the French pique-nique, of unknown origin.

[2] Barbara and Mary (William’s sisters) and William his son.