I was welcomed in Aleksandrovsk with open arms. Hospitable homeowners (there was a trio: Pl— — i, his wife Ser— — ii, and another exile) gave me their entire mezzanine as my lodging and were exceptionally attentive and cordial toward me. Regardless of the fact that Pl— — i had completed university and had a good job in the district commander's chancery, it provided them a thoroughly modest lifestyle, and he rather shamefully existed at the level of laborers hired simply to attend livestock, rummage in the garden, and generally do the dirty work. As a trio, they maintained a rather large farm, and their dairy products were renowned not only on Sakhalin but across the Sea of Japan, in Vladivostok. Their house was, as they say, a full bowl. It was interesting to observe them, young, healthy, always busy.

Next day, I hurried to present myself to the district commander, who in General K.'s absence was fulfilling the island commandant's duties. I was invited onto the veranda, where I stood before a table of nearly all of Aleksandrovsk's officials. It was customary for them to gather every morning for tea in the district commander's apartment, and to conversationally decide matters and devise a plan of action for the coming day. As such, many issues were straightforwardly settled through personal meetings, without procrastination or chancery communiqués.

The district commander, having introduced me to all the officials, shared with me General K.'s wish that, in addition to extensive voyages in the new steamer, I produce for them a map of Aleksandrovsk's shipping lane and work out the navigation of the Tatar Strait.

“We always get complaints from ship captains,” continued the district commander, “that they don't have an accurate map of Sakhalin and, in particular, the Aleksandrovsk lane, which, among other things, makes sailing the Tatar Strait very dangerous. This is why we want our bay measured. Everything you need will be at your disposal. You can use the steam cutters; you can take as many laborers as you need; we’ll assign a government horse to get you to the wharf; you’ll find instruments at our surveyor Karaulovskii's place. We have here a capable fellow— the draftsman Zagarin. If you need anything drawn, he can help as well…”