O'Kosiri, 1880.

Iron Duke.

Themis.

Raiden.

Kerguelen.

Champlain.

Modeste.

Naezdnik.

H.M.S. IRON DUKE AGROUND AT O'KOSIRI.

IN EASTERN SEAS;
OR,
THE COMMISSION OF
H.M.S. "IRON DUKE,"
Flag-ship in China, 1878-83.

BY
J. J. SMITH, N. S.

Devonport:
Printed and Published by A. H. Swiss, 111 and 112 Fore Street.
1883.

PREFACE.

To write something which shall please one's ownfriends is one thing; to undertake the task of pleasinganybody else is another; and, I take it, a far moredifficult one. The writer of the following pages neversought to sail beyond the peaceful and well-marked areaof the first, until induced—at the suggestions of hisshipmates, though against his better judgment—toventure on the dark and tempest-swept ocean of thesecond.

The only originality claimed for the narrative is thatof introducing such a manifestly inferior production toyour notice.

Shipmates, my little bark is frail; deal gently withher, and—let me ask it as a special favor—do notblow too fiercely on her untried sails.

Much depends on the title of a book. Does itconvey an adequate idea of the subject-matter? Iwould claim for mine at least that merit; for is notevery sea over which we have voyaged to the eastwardof England?

CONTENTS.