evidence: The crisis that became known as the "Golovnin Incident" finally led to the establishment of a stable coexistence between Japan and Russia. It began when the leader of a Russian survey mission to the Kuril/Chishima Islands, Captain Vasiliĭ Golovnin of the sloop Diana, went ashore on Kunashiri Island in July 1811 to obtain fresh provisions. He also tried to convince the Japanese that the Russians did not want war. Golovnin even brought along a Russian–speaking Ainu named Alekseĭ to act as translator. Indeed, although there were plans to establish a Russian colony on Sakhalin, later aborted due to lack of resources and continued Japanese hostility, it is true that the Russians were not planning any future raids. However, Golovnin, Alekseĭ and six other Russians were captured and taken to Matsumae as prisoners. Golvnin’s First Officer, Petr Rikord, decided he could not rescue Golovnin without reinforcements, but as Russia was about to face Napoleon’s invasion, he soon discovered that the central government could not send any help. Rikord thus decided his best bet was to take counter–hostages and intercepted a ship off Kunashiri in the summer of 1812.