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 KOREA, 
 
 AND HER RELATIONS TO CHINA, JAPAN AND 
 THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 BY 
 
 EVERETT FRAZAR. 
 
KOREA, 
 
 AND HER RELATIONS TO CHINA, JAPAN AND 
 THE UNT IED STATES. 
 
 I 
 
 A PAPER 
 
 READ BEFORE THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY, 
 
 OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, 
 
 IN MUSIC HALL , 
 
 November 15th, 1883, 
 
 EVERETT 
 
 FRAZAR. 
 
 ORANGE, N. J.: 
 
 Chronicle Book and Job Printing Office, 
 1884. 
 

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 117 118 119 '20 121 122 123 124 iv . 
 
 127 I2P 
 
 Map of Korea, showing portions of China and Japan. 
 
 Copyrighted 1884, by Everett Frazar. 
 
KOREA. 
 
 Preliminary Remarks. 
 
 The New England Society, at its monthly meeting in June, 
 1882, passed a unanimous vote to the effect, that “ the His- 
 torical and Geographical Section be invited to favor the 
 Society with either a discourse or paper upon some new and 
 interesting topic.” 
 
 In response to this request, and at the personal solicitation 
 of many of its members, supplemented by a dire< 5 t vote passed 
 by the Society at its meeting in October, 1883, I have had the 
 subjeft under contemplation for the past eighteen months. 
 Civilization has made such rapid strides during recent years, 
 and steam and electricity have brought us into such close and 
 rapid communication with all parts of the known world, that 
 one really has to sit down and ponder thoughtfully before 
 deciding in what direction to turn successfully for a subject 
 which has not already been worn threadbare ; or, at least, 
 been traveled over and illustrated for the first, second or third 
 time. 
 
 To my mind Korea seemed to be the only country under 
 the sun not yet opened up, and understood by the people 
 of the United States, and Europe — in reality the “ Ultima 
 Thule ” — and in that direction I accordingly concluded to seek 
 my groundwork for the present discourse; naturally taking a 
 a stronger personal interest in this special subject, from a 
 long residence in the far East, and travels in the immediate 
 vicinity of this hitherto forbidden land. Even before the 
 recent interchanges of treaty and comity between Korea and 
 
4 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 the United States, through our American Commodore R. W. 
 Schufeldt, I had undertaken the preliminaries ; but owing to 
 constant interruptions and engagements, and, at last, in con- 
 sequence of a rather sudden determination to revisit China 
 and Japan, after ten years absence, I have been compelled to 
 put off this anticipated pleasure until the present time. 
 
 I have endeavored to collect such information as I consider 
 trustworthy, so far as it can be obtained at this early period, 
 paying special attention to all such matters as have com- 
 directly under my own personal experience. 
 
 It was my good fortune and pleasure, during my recent trip, 
 to have as fellow passenger on board the Pacific Mail Steam- 
 ship “ City of Peking,” from San Francisco to Yokohama, 
 Gen. Lucius H. Foote, the recently accredited Minister 
 Plenipotentiary to Korea, and a more pleasant and intelligent 
 compagnon de voyage I have rarely met. To those not 
 familiar with the record of this gentleman, I would explain 
 that Gen. Foote, during our late civil war, was attached to 
 the staff of Governor Booth, of the State of California. Sub- 
 sequently he was for four years L T nited States Consul at 
 Valparaiso, Chili, and upon the death of Gen. Kilpatrick, 
 United States Minister at Santiago, Gen. Foote was appointed 
 by the President as his successor. This position he held for 
 one year, when he was, quite unexpectedly, summoned to 
 Washington, receiving at the hands of President Arthur the 
 appointment of Minister to Korea. 
 
 Naturally between Gen. Foote, his entertaining wife, and 
 myself a mutually sympathetic and close acquaintance was 
 formed during this twenty days voyage ; the topic of interest, 
 above all others, being Korea. The Japanese Embassy, under 
 charge of Minister Suige, were also fellow passengers, return- 
 ing home after the coronation of the King of the Hawaiian 
 Islands, between whom, (during his recent trip to China and 
 Japan.) and the Mikado, a very warm and lasting friendship 
 seems to have been formed. Through Mr. Nagasaki, a pri- 
 vate secretary of the Mikado, acting as interpreter, he being 
 also well informed on matters pertaining to Korea, I was 
 thus singularly fortunate in being able to discuss my subject 
 with those having an equally deep and kindred interest. 
 
china’s greatest wonders. 
 
 5 
 
 From Du Halde, and from Regis and Feron, renowned 
 French missionaries, as well as from Emil Oppert and Col. V.on 
 Siebold, I have also derived much valuable information per- 
 taining to this peculiar country and people. 
 
 And here I may be pardoned for referring to the rapid ad- 
 vance made in domestic and foreign travel, when a voyage to 
 Japan and China, from New York, by rail seven days to San 
 Francisco, and by steamer twenty days to Yokohama, and 
 eight days to Shanghae, and return home, covering a distance 
 of 23,000 miles, or nearly equal to that around the world, may 
 be made in three and one-half months. I include in that time 
 an intermediate voyage from Shanghae to Hong Kong and 
 Canton of twelve days ; with stoppages on shore in China 
 and Japan of from five to six weeks. Compare this journey 
 with that of the old sailing-vessel days of twenty-five years 
 ago, when, in 1858, I made the voyage to Shanghae from Bos- 
 ton in 184 days — nearly twice the time occupied by this recent 
 trip out and back. Verily, this world of ours does to me, in 
 reality, seem far less imposing in magnitude than I was 
 taught to believe in my boyhood days. 
 
 Before passing on to our main subject for the evening, I 
 desire to make brief mention of two of China’s greatest won- 
 ders. On the left of the chart, running down to the Gulf 
 of Liau-tung, will be noticed the Great Wall of China. This 
 stupendous work is undoubtedly the greatest masterpiece of 
 industry, genius and perseverance which Asia contains. It 
 was built by the Emperor Chin-tsin, 22 [ years B. C. It ex- 
 tends fully 1,500 miles, from the Yellow Sea to the most 
 westerly portion of the province of Shansi. 
 
 It is built of coarse Chinese bricks, slate, stone and earth ; is 
 twenty to twenty-five feet high, and about twenty-two feet 
 broad at the top; flanked throughout its' entire length, at 
 intervals, by square towers forty-eight feet high, and fifty feet 
 wide ; with nfhssive gates, fortified by two or three ramparts 
 of great strength. It runs over the tops of mountains fully 
 5,000 feet high, and often at an elevation of forty-five degrees, 
 down deep into valleys and vales, but always maintaining its 
 uniform height of from twenty to twenty-five feet. From 
 
6 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 four to five millions of men are said to have been employed in 
 building it ; the time occupied being about ten years. Four 
 hundred thousand of these laborers are believed to have died 
 during that period from incessant toil. It has braved the 
 storms of more than two thousand years, and still it stands 
 to-day in all its pristine strength and dignity. 
 
 During the fall of 1869 I made a trip from Shanghae to 
 Peking and the Great Wall, and have here to-night a me- 
 mento of that trip in the shape of a piece of slate rock, which 
 I took from one of the foundation stones directly under the 
 gateway of the wall, at Nan-kaou Pass. 
 
 At one time in China’s history no less than one million of 
 soldiers garrisoned this extensive wall of defense against the 
 Tartar hordes, which continually threatened the Chinese 
 Empire. When one reflects that the materials of which this 
 Great Wall is built would, as Sir John Barrow estimates, 
 suffice to erect a wall six feet high and two feet broad, which 
 in point of length, would twice encircle the globe, it must be 
 admitted that it is one of the marvels of the ancient world, 
 and we cannot help appreciating the remark of the cele- 
 brated Dr. Johnson, who was so impressed with the magni- 
 tude and grandeur of this great undertaking as to exclaim : 
 “ that it would be an honor to any one to be able to say his 
 grandfather had seen the Great Wall of China.” 
 
 Another curiosity, being a piece of one of the bricks taken 
 from the famous porcelain tower of Nanking in 1857. I have 
 also brought with me. This wonderful structure, 261 feet in 
 height, was completed in 1430, after nineteen years of incessant 
 labor, and was completely destroyed by the Tae-ping rebels 
 in 1856, not a vestige of it remaining to-day. Its cost was 
 nearly three and a half millions of dollars, an enormous sum 
 in those times. 
 
KOREA. 
 
 What may be considered the very last Tei'ra Incognita 
 among the nations of the earth, has, at last, succumbed to 
 the inevitable and irresistible march of human progress ; and 
 Korea, in this late year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and 
 eighty-three, has now for the first time, and we trust for all 
 future time, thrown open her doors to the outside world. 
 Henceforth she has determined not to be behind her larger 
 and more powerful neighbors, China and Japan, in taking a 
 forward and honorable position among the more civilized 
 nations. 
 
 Except to a few French missionaries, who had managed to 
 find their way into the country, Korea has been hitherto 
 almost unknown to the outer world ; in fact it has, as you 
 know, often been called the “ Hermit Land.” 
 
 Interested motives have undoubtedly influenced Korea in 
 the very important step she has taken at this late day. She 
 has been influenced on the one hand by the hostile attitude of 
 Russia and Japan, and on the other by the friendly posture of 
 her nearest and most powerful neighbor, China ; and the 
 United States, with the good help of Li-hung-chang, has in 
 a very quiet and unexpected manner accomplished, in the 
 sudden opening up of this most obscure country, results which 
 other nations like England, France, Germany and Russia have 
 ineffectually striven to bring about, from time to time, for fully 
 half a century. 
 
 Russia, with her insatiable greed for further landed posses- 
 sions, has always shown an inclination to absorb the Northern 
 and Eastern, or ocean provinces, of Korea, with the view of 
 getting more valuable facilities of enlarged sea coast, and more 
 convenient port accommodations for her naval and mercantile 
 
8 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 fleets and Pacific coast trade than she now possesses on the 
 Siberian Pacific coast, or its annex, the large island of Sagha- 
 lien. The principal ports of these Russian Possessions are all 
 more or less closed by ice during the greater part of the year, 
 being situated between the 42d and 55th parallels of latitude, 
 and are rendered unsafe for navigation by severe northeast 
 monsoon gales, which sweep down the entire length of this 
 coast from October to April. 
 
 A most intelligent English writer in Hong Kong, in August, 
 1882, said : “ What Russia, who is as zealous on behalf of the 
 “ Greek Church as France is for the Romish faith, will do 
 “ when her opportunity to negotiate a treaty with Korea 
 “ comes, we feel curious to see. The fear of some aggressive 
 “ move on the part of Russia was certainly one of the motives 
 “ which actuated Li-hung-chang when he so earnestly recom- 
 “ mended the Korean Government to abandon their policy of 
 “isolation. The great Chinese Viceroy was astute enough to 
 “ see that if western powers acquired commercial interests in 
 “ Korea, it would be less likely to fall a victim to Muscovite 
 “ rapacity. The annexation of the northern provinces of 
 “ Korea by Russia, or even the seizure of Port Lazaref alone, 
 “ would be a grave danger and constant menace to China. 
 “ Hence, the anxiety of the Chinese to keep Russia within 
 “ her own bounds in Asia, and to preserve Korea as a buffer 
 “ between Russia and the waters of the Gulf of Pechele.” 
 
 The Koreans have certainly for years felt very suspicious of 
 Russia and have from time to time been alarmed by her 
 threats and actions, and in consequence have sought still 
 closer alliance with, and accepted under less reserve the 
 friendly advice and counsel of their Chinese neighbors, which 
 by strong representations have tended more and more towards 
 the unreserved throwing open of the country by treaty to all 
 civilized nations. 
 
 Japan has for a long time, notably within fifteen or twenty 
 years, carried on almost an exclusive trade with Korea, and 
 she has never ceased to urge upon the Korean authorities the 
 granting to Japanese traders special facilities, which Japan 
 certainly would not expect or desire to see accorded to her 
 
china’s claims of suzerainty. 
 
 9 
 
 neighbors, the Chinese, or to any other nations. This pres- 
 sure and persistency on the part of the Japanese — no doubt 
 magnified and made the most of by the Peking Government — - 
 has caused no little offence to Korea. 
 
 Rather than give Japan any partial advantages, and in- 
 fluenced by the threatening position of her very powerful 
 northern neighbor, Russia, as well as by the friendly advice 
 of China, Korea very properly concluded, in 1882, that the 
 auspicious time had at last arrived when it was to her own 
 advantage to emerge from her seclusion and open her gates 
 to foreign intercourse, as Japan had already done but a few 
 years before, and thus at last to enter into the comity of 
 nations. 
 
 I give these details that we may the better understand the 
 motives which have impelled Korea. forward in the path she 
 has so recently elected to follow. 
 
 China is generally supposed to have professed and main- 
 tained the claims of suzerainty, or control, over the kingdom 
 of Korea for many centuries past, and this assumption is 
 made manifest in the late negotiations carried on with Korea 
 by Com. Schufeldt, under the good auspices of his former 
 friend, Li-hung-chang. 
 
 On the part of Japan, ever jealous of China’s increasing 
 influence in Korea, and annoyed at the preference given 
 to Chinese instead of Japanese aid, this concession by 
 Korea to China has never been acknowledged ; still, to a 
 degree it is undoubtedly accepted by Korea, and annually 
 their Embassy, accompanied by a few privileged traders, re- 
 pairs to the principal fairs held in Manchuria a portion con- 
 tinuing on to the Chinese capital, Peking, where audiences 
 are held at the Chinese court. In the Imperial edict, deal- 
 ing with the late Regent of Korea, the Dai-un-kun, when sent 
 into exile, these words were used : “ Korea is a dependency 
 “of Our Ta Tsing Empire, and has been subject to Us, for 
 “ generations.” 
 
 This apparent claim of close relationship between China 
 and Korea, as that of Liege and Vassal, was further made 
 manifest in the course of the gratuitous negotiations carried on 
 
IO 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 by Mr. Emil Oppert, formerly a German merchant and an ac- 
 quaintance in Shanghae, who made three different voyages 
 from Shanghae to Korea in 1864 and 1865, with the awowed 
 object of opening up that country on his own account, and 
 for the future benefit of the world at large, but who in reality 
 failed most ignominiously. 
 
 These incursions could be explained in detail from personal 
 recollections did time permit. Suffice it to say, that Mr. 
 Oppert proceeded three times to Korea in the British steamers 
 “Emperor” and “ Rona,” and German steamer “China,” the 
 latter taking an armed force of twenty-five Manilamen and 
 Chinese, supported by an American named Jenkins who spoke 
 Chinese fluently and led by a French priest and interpreter 
 named Ridel. The real purpose of these marauding ex- 
 peditions was that of surreptitiously securing the supposed 
 golden coffin of the last king of Korea, to be held for ransom 
 by Mr. Oppert in exchange for his self-made treaty, and the 
 advantages expected to be derived therefrom. These expedi- 
 tions were, one after the other, rendered fruitless and barren 
 of any good results. T*he ending of the third and last Oppert 
 expedition resulted in loss of life to one or two of the Manila- 
 men during an armed attack by the Korean authorities, who 
 had learned of the affair, and whose troops, sent in great haste, 
 reached the sacred sepulchre just as the supposed golden 
 coffin was almost within the grasp of these filibusters. Mr. 
 Oppert, with his would-be diplomatic confreres, barely escaped 
 with their lives, fleeing to their boats, pursued by an angry 
 crowd of outraged Koreans. 
 
 After returning to Shanghae, Mr. Jenkins was brought before 
 United States Consul-General Seward for trial for participa- 
 tion in this last incursion, and narrowly escaped incarceration 
 in the Consular jail, while Mr. Oppert, on return home to Ger- 
 many, is said to have been tried for the same offence and 
 imprisoned for two years. Of Mons. Ridel and his subsequent 
 missionary work, we have no authentic account. 
 
 It was during one of these negotiations that Mr. Oppert was 
 distinctly informed by a high Korean official that the King 
 positively refused his consent to any intercourse being held in 
 
NUMEROUS TITLES GIVEN TO KOREA. 
 
 I I 
 
 regard to matters pertaining to a treaty without the previous 
 acquiescence of his friend, the Emperor of China. 
 
 Still, I have reason to believe that this claim on the part of 
 China and its nominal acceptance by Korea, like that professed 
 towards Annam, is one of convenience and policy rather than 
 of any conceded hereditary right ; and in this case asserted for 
 the purpose of exercising a certain influence and restraint over 
 Japan, of which country China has ever been jealous, in con- 
 sequence of which jealousy Korea was for many early cen- 
 turies the theatre of most barbarous and devastating wars. 
 
 Korea appears early in Chinese history, the first notice being 
 in the year 1120 B. C. The famous Shang dynasty had been 
 overthrown, and the Chow dynasty had come into power, led 
 on by its first King, Woo, from which period down to the 
 present time the Emperors of China have claimed supremacy* 
 over the country. 
 
 Down to about the ninth century A. D., Korea was called 
 by the Chinese Chao-sien ; by the Japanese Cho-sen ; and by 
 the natives themselves Tah-chosun, or Great Korea. From 
 about the middle of the ninth century, when a change of gov- 
 ernment occurred, down to the year 1391 A. D., the country 
 was called Kaou-le, or Korea, while from that date to the 
 present time, its old title of Tah-chosun has again been 
 adopted, and to-day it is so called by the people themselves, 
 although by Occidental nations the old and familiar name of 
 Korea has always been maintained. The late Korean Min- 
 ister, Prince Min-Yong-lk, always spoke of the country as 
 Tah-chosun, and its people as Chosunese ; and these terms 
 are used in all official and diplomatic correspondence by the 
 government and people. 
 
 At the beginning of the seventeenth century, after a period 
 of fully 300 years, the Ming dynasty was overthrown by the 
 Manchus, and the unsuccessful expeditions made by the 
 Chinese into Korea between the years 1627 and 1637 were, 
 owing to the determined valor and opposition on the part of 
 the Koreans, the last incursions attempted by China, and from 
 that time to the year 1882 Korea has practically been a sealed 
 
12 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 book ; as was the case with Japan, when, in 1854, its doors 
 were also first opened to an .American naval officer, Com- 
 modore Perry. 
 
 A brief description of the Kingdom of Korea may here be 
 of interest. The total area is nearly 80,000 square miles, or 
 about double the size of the State of Pennsylvania, or say 
 eleven times as large as our own State of New Jersey. It 
 is situated between the 34th and 43d parallels of latitude, 
 the extremes corresponding to the situations of our own cities 
 of Wilmington, North Carolina, at the south, and Boston, 
 Mass., at the north, its longitude being between 122 0 and 130° 
 east of Greenwich. The coast tends obliquely from northwest 
 to southeast, as does that of the State of Florida, having 
 on the north and northwest the extensive Chinese and Russian 
 province of Manchuria, on the east the sea of Japan, on the 
 west the Yellow Sea and Gulf of Pechele, and on the south 
 the Korean Straits, separating it from the southwest extremity 
 of Japan. The coast, although very bold and dangerous, and 
 crowded with islands on the south and west, still has a number 
 of fi ne bays and harbors, where ships may find safe anchorage. 
 There are some half dozen rivers of more or less magnitude, 
 but of course far inferior to the average of those of our own 
 country. 
 
 On one of these rivers, the Han-kang, in the western pro- 
 vince of Kien-kei, is situated the capital Seoul, (pronounced 
 “ sole” by H. E. Min-Yong-Ik, the Korean Ambassador) in 
 latitude 30°, longitude 124^-T Following the tortuous wind- 
 ings of the river, the distance from the sea to the capital is 
 fully sixty miles, while across country it is less than twenty- 
 five miles. Flere the King and Queen and the Imperial court 
 make their permanent residence. Seoul itself is surrounded 
 by a high thick wall, estimated to be about four miles in cir- 
 cumference, and having four gateways, corresponding to the 
 cardinal points of the compass. A high range of mountains 
 environs the city, on the top of which, following their contour, 
 are built the walls and fortifications. The streets are broad, 
 with many wide avenues, reminding one of Peking. 
 
 The country around Seoul is very fertile, with magnificent 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM OF KOREA. 
 
 13 
 
 fields of cotton, rice and other grains. Both the city and 
 country people, as well as the officials and soldiers, are found 
 to be very civil and obliging. The Royal Palace occupies a 
 site on the northern side of the city, standing on the slope of 
 a beautifully wooded hill, which extends for some two miles 
 to the north, terminating in a craggy ridge, where the city 
 rampart wall winds over it. When passing the palace at a dis- 
 tance of a half a mile, it appears as a series of buildings of the 
 Chinese temple type, extending from the outer gate in a reg- 
 ular succession of buildings and courts, with gates at intervals. 
 The public buildings of the government and residences of the 
 officials are all strongly built, many being quite imposing, 
 with walls on both sides of the street, as is seen in parts of the 
 Chinese capital. The King, whose birthday is celebrated on 
 the 27th of September, is a man of short stature, with a pleas- 
 ant face, and polished and dignified manners. He is said to 
 be the handsomest man in the kingdom. 
 
 One recent writer describes the Korean country as “ being 
 “ very picturesque, with wooded hills, green valleys, clear 
 “streams, wild flowers, and fresh and invigorating climate; 
 “ the people evidently well disposed and of a kindly turn of 
 “ mind.” This writer also goes on to say: “ It is certain that, 
 “ in the material joys that can be given by English grey shirt- 
 “ ings, American drills, brandy and kerosene oil, these people 
 “ are really behind the age ; whilst of joint stock companies in 
 “ Perak, Arizona or Wall Street, New York, they have not 
 “yet one single thought.” 
 
 I was somewhat surprised to learn from the Minister that 
 the word “ Seoul ” means in Korean, capital only, and that 
 the real native name of the capital city is I Ian- Yang. Its 
 population is about 300,000, one-half of which is resident 
 within and one-half without the city walls. As regards the 
 population of the whole empire, I find that heretofore the 
 greatest difficulty has existed in arriving at any degree of 
 accuracy Within the past two months, both from H. E. 
 Prince Min personally, and from Herr Von Mullendorff, the 
 P'oreign Inspector of Customs at Seoul, I learn that between 
 twelve and thirteen millions is a very fair estimate. 
 
H 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 The three ports opened by the American treaty to foreign 
 trade are, first in importance, Chosan, (called by Japanese 
 Fusan, and so noted on our maps) situated on the southeast 
 coast in latitude 35 0 , longitude 122 and nearest to Japan, 
 being but 1 50 miles, or fifteen hours steaming, from Nagasaki. 
 It has a fine bay and is easy of access. A submarine cable, 
 said to have been ordered in England, is soon to connect 
 Fusan with Japan, by way of the Tsu-shima Island, and Simon- 
 osaki, in the Island Sea. 
 
 Wen-shan, or Gen-san as it is also called, on the east coast, 
 in latitude 38^, longitude 126°, also has a magnificent harbor 
 about ten miles square, in front of the town, in the rear of 
 which are beautifully wooded and extensive mountain ranges. 
 There are good prospects for trade at this port, it being sit- 
 uated in the immediate vicinity of the fur country. 
 
 The third treaty port is Ren-shan, or as it is called by the 
 natives In-chun, also Chemul-po. a little fishing village sit- 
 uated on the western coast, in latitude 37^°, longitude 124°, 
 six miles from the town of that name, which is about one- 
 third the distance on the way to Seoul. 
 
 The mountain ranges throughout Korea are very extensive, 
 the different ranges reaching very nearly from one end to the 
 other, north and south, but none are higher than from one to 
 two miles. On the north and northwest these mountains, 
 together with the large Yah-lah river, form the dividing line 
 between Korea, China and Russia. 
 
 The kingdom is divided into eight different provinces, three 
 being on the eastern or Japan Sea side, and five in the western 
 or Yellow Sea portion, whilst two of them, Pieng-an and Han 
 Kieng, extend northerly, bordering on the Chinese Manchu- 
 rian province. These eight provinces have each a Governor, 
 'with 332 sub-provincial district magistrates or mandarins. 
 
 The monarchy is a despotism, limited only by the existence 
 of privileged ranks and hereditary nobles. The person of the 
 King is held in the highest reverence, and he is the object of 
 almost divine honors, holding the powers of life and death 
 over all his subjects. The government is practically adminis- 
 tered by three of the King’s principal ministers, the first being 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM OF KOREA. 
 
 15 
 
 called the Admirable Councillor, or Prime Minister ; the 
 second, the Councillor of the Right ; the third the Councillor 
 of the Left ; these being assisted by six judges with deputies 
 or substitutes. 
 
 And here a few words about the religion, manners, customs 
 and caste of the Koreans. Their national religion, if it can be 
 so termed, is undoubtedly like all their other official institu- 
 tions, based upon that of China ; both Buddhism and Taoism 
 having their votaries. In fact Korea is in many respects, I 
 believe, just China in miniature, and there is no greater rev- 
 erence paid to Confucius in the Chinese Empire than in the 
 adjacent Peninsula. 
 
 Buddhism was introduced into Korea about the year 372 
 A. D., and it remained the national or official religion up to the 
 fourteenth century, when the teachings of Confucius took a 
 stronghold upon the people, and they are to-day the established 
 creed of the kingdom. The Chinese state gods are every- 
 where worshipped ; the literati profess the Confucian Ethics, 
 and the sacred books of this worthy sage have been officially 
 translated and are current and revered throughout the 
 Empire. 
 
 Many of the large pagodas, erected during the official status 
 of Buddhism and built in the Chinese style, still exist in dif- 
 ferent parts of the kingdom, in various degrees of preservation 
 and of decay. The worship of ancestors is here maintained in 
 full force, as in China, and great importance is attached to all 
 the details connected with funerals, mournings and tombs. 
 The temple of Confucius, with its beautiful wooded com- 
 pounds, is seen in every district. 
 
 \\ h i 1 st in India the highest caste is that of the priesthood 
 or Brahmins, the contrary is said to be the case in Korea, 
 where the priests seem to be of a very low order and despised, 
 holding but slight influence for good over the common people - 
 The French Jesuits, or Roman Catholics, have made consid- 
 erable progress in this, country, professing to count their con- 
 verts from first to last, by scores of thousands. As far back 
 as 1839 the Jesuits claimed to have not less than from fifty to 
 seventy thousand devoted followers. 
 
i6 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 As might be expected, such conversions as have been 
 claimed and effected by the Romanists could not be accom- 
 plished without bringing down the ire of the Imperial author- 
 ities, and severe persecutions have, from time to time — 
 descending from reign to reign — been meted out upon these 
 unfortunate devotees. It has been well said, that “ a China- 
 man gets baptised in consideration of the worldly and 
 material advantages which he expects to gain thereby.” The 
 Korean, on the contrary, has nothing of the sort to expect 
 but only persecution, torture and often death itself. He be- 
 comes a Christian from conviction and not from any mercen- 
 ary motives. I have personally had a corroboration of this 
 very statement, from the lips of Protestant missionaries them- 
 selves in China. 
 
 In 1864, at the close of the Ni dynasty, which had been 
 mild and successful, the father of the young King, (then a 
 boy of but four or five years) who had become more and more 
 powerful in his influence, exercised a complete control over 
 the Imperial Council. He suddenly instituted an unprece- 
 dented reign of terror and despotism throughout the land, 
 throwing into prison and subsequently beheading nine of the 
 leading French missionaries, three only escaping with their 
 lives, and after great hardships and risks reaching China. 
 One of these Jesuits was Ridel, the instigator, or at least 
 accomplice of Mr. Oppert's third and last raid, in Korea. 
 
 No 1 ess than ten thousand native Christians and smypa- 
 thisers, men, women and children, were said to have been 
 cruelly put to death by this barbarous self-afting regent 
 (Dai-un-kun), whole villages being nearly depopulated. Fol- 
 lowing this horrible treatment of these faithful devotees, an 
 edict was at once issued, prohibiting the holding of the usual 
 annual fairs at the north, as well as forbidding the import, or 
 use in any way, of foreign manufactures, capital punishment 
 being threatened in case of infringement of this stringent edict. 
 
 It was this same Dai-un-kun who ordered the late massacre 
 of the members of the Japanese legation, for which Korea is 
 now mulcted in the sum of about 500,000 yen ($350,000) no 
 portion of which has been paid to Japan as yet, as I was in- 
 
THE DAI-UN-KUN EXILED. 
 
 17 
 
 formed in April last, by the Imperial Japanese Secretary, Mr. 
 Nagasaki. The immediate cause of this outbreak, on the 23d 
 of July, 1882, was said to be the fact that the soldiery in the 
 castle at Seoul, numbering about 5,000 men, had not been 
 paid for several months, and the usurper, Dai-un-kun, affecting 
 to sympathize with the soldiery, gave favor and countenance 
 to the massacre. The Queen was thought for a long time to 
 have been poisoned, while the young King was kept in safety 
 within the walls of the imperial barracks. 
 
 It will perhaps be remembered that at the close of the late 
 treaty negotiations, by Com. Schufeldt with Korea, the 
 Chinese Commissioners, Ma and Ju, through Admiral Ting, 
 who accompanied them to Seoul, took forcible possession of 
 this acting regent, by inviting him on board the Chinese flag- 
 ship, and sailing away to Tientsin, from which port he was 
 sent into the extreme northwestern border of China into exile. 
 This was probably done with the approval or, at least, with 
 the connivance of certain members of the imperial council. It 
 was a bold, but doubtless thoroughly politic piece of Oriental 
 strategy on the part of China toward its protege, and a most 
 righteous retribution and deserving punishment for such a 
 ruling monster in this present age. This action gives a decided 
 promise and guarantee of better management on the part of 
 the Korean governm mt, which is to day ruled by the boy- 
 king, spoken of above, now but twenty-four or twenty-five 
 years of age, from whose enlightened reign great promise of 
 future benefits are justly anticipated. 
 
 The old Prince, said to be 76 years of age, was furious when 
 he discovered the treachery of his host, and bitterly denounced 
 him for his bad faith, and had not order in Korea been at 
 once established, China might have brought upon herself com- 
 plications which would, no doubt, have proved most embar- 
 rassing. A well written proclamation was at once put forth 
 by Commissioner Ma, in justification of his summary acts ; and 
 another by PI. M., the young King, himself, deeply lamenting 
 the loss of his aged father, and imploring the Emperor of 
 China to send him back. Both these are very interesting 
 reading, but I have not the time to give them in full. Suffice 
 
i8 
 
 •KOREA. 
 
 is to say that in a third proclamation the Emperor of China 
 positively refuses to release the Prince, allowing only one 
 deputy from the King of Korea to visit him in his exile once a 
 year. Late reports from China mention that the Dai-un-kun 
 has recently died, after being in e*ile about one year. 
 
 Before leaving this part of our subject and taking up that 
 of caste, I may mention an incident in connection with the 
 beheading of the French Jesuits by order of the Dai-un-kun, 
 in 1866, as a matter of fact, and as confirming my belief that 
 China seeks only to make her claim of suzerainty over 
 Korea one of convenience. On the occasion of Mons. Bel- 
 lonnet, the French charge d' affaires in Peking, demanding 
 satisfaction from, or through, the Chinese authorities for the 
 murder of these nine missionaries in Korea, he was politely 
 but firmly referred by Prince Kung directly to the King of 
 Korea ; the Prince not only professing entire ignorance of 
 the affair, but declining all responsibility on behalf of the 
 Chinese Government. Accordingly, in the fall of 1866, the 
 French Admiral Roze, with six or eight men-of-war, attempt- 
 ed to seek satisfaction direct from Korea, endeavoring to 
 reach the capital Seoul, but retiring to Chefoo most unexpect- 
 edly. The expedition proved a complete failure, and unfor- 
 tunately the Dai-un-kun and his council were thereby still 
 further confirmed in their arrogance and false estimate of 
 their strength. 
 
 The existence of caste among the Koreans is most marked, 
 the division being far stronger than in China, Japan, or 
 even India ; and while there caste arises chiefly from re- 
 ligious actions, in Korea it seems to take on a character very 
 largely local or political. 
 
 The civil and military nobility occupy the first and second 
 or foremost ranks after the King and royal family, who stand 
 far above even these classes. Then comes the third, or half- 
 noble caste, which enjoys the right of filling the under ofifices ) 
 as those of secretaries, interpreters, & c. The fourth includes 
 the civil, or wealthier portion of the residents in cities ; and 
 fifth there is the people’s caste, including all villagers, farmers, 
 shepherds, fishermen, &c. The lowest of all in the social scale 
 
DRESS OF THE NATIVES. 
 
 ig 
 
 are the bondsmen or slaves, corresponding to the former serfs 
 in Russia, and even this class has its various divisions. In cer- 
 tain rare cases, however, the King has raised to the highest 
 rank those far below on account of some meritorious action. 
 
 The high priests reside in the capitals. The bonzes, or 
 ordinary priests do not, as a rule, bear a good reputation, 
 morally, as do those in the neighboring empires. Their dress 
 is similar to that of the Chinese priests, consisting of long 
 white robes of coarse material, their heads being completely 
 shaven. 
 
 It is the opinion of those who have lived among the 
 Koreans that there is hope of more rapid and successful mis- 
 sionary education and moral advancement at this late day 
 under the enlightened influence of the present young King 
 and his advisers, than has been experienced among the Chinese. 
 Many cases are on record of noble self-sacrifice toward the 
 Jesuit teachers, where even life and death were directly in- 
 volved, which rival any such hitherto recorded in the old his- 
 tories of Western Nations. 
 
 The dress of the Koreans, although plain, is as a rule far in 
 advance of that of both the Japanese and Chinese, and both 
 among the men and women is usually white ; while from the 
 highest official to the lowest menial the people are almost 
 invariably well clad. This cannot always be said of their 
 neighbors of China and Japan. The men usually wear a short 
 jacket, reaching below the hips, with wide trousers loose 
 about the legs, or tied at the ankles over the stockings. The 
 better classes often wear long and flowing robes, like their 
 neighbors in China, with a belt or girdle at the waist, to which 
 is attached fan, tobacco pouch, pipe, &c. And here I may 
 mention my own personal experience of meeting in April and 
 May last, many of the official classes attached to the Korean 
 Embassy, then in Japan. At the railway stations in Osaca, 
 Kioto and Tokio, but particularly while waiting for a train at 
 Osaca on the 28th of May, I met several of these officials, 
 two of whom soon became very friendly and communicative, 
 and through an English friend who spoke Japanese, and a 
 Japanese who spoke Korean, I soon^found that they were well 
 
20 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 aware of General Foote’s mission to Korea, saying that the 
 King would be very glad to welcome him and foreigners gen- 
 erally ; that the American treaty would be promptly ratified, 
 and that foreign trade would soon be opened up with Korea. 
 My two friends became quite friendly, on learning that I had 
 been a fellow passenger to Japan with General Foote, and 
 hearing me speak of him in suck warm and approving terms, 
 they insisted upon joining me in my compartment in the 
 railway carriage from Osaca to Hiogo, where, after a pleasant 
 hand-shaking and pressing invitation that I should visit Seoul 
 where I could again meet them, we parted company. 
 
 I was greatly struck with the marked contrast in the cast of 
 countenance and the color of dress of these two high Korean * 
 officials. One was distinctly Manchurian, or Chinese, just such 
 as I had seen in Peking, and as far north as the great wall at 
 Nankow. This man wore a long, bright-blue robe, with high 
 waist, fastened close in the neck ; white stockings ; shoes 
 more European in shape, but not in color, than Chinese ; with 
 the official high crown, broad, straight-brim, bamboo and horse- 
 hair hat. Fie was of distant, or, perhaps near, Chinese extrac- 
 tion, and was from the northwestern portion of the Empire, 
 bordering on the Chinese frontiers. 
 
 The other official was not at all like either the Chinese or 
 Japanese. His face was rather of a Mongolian, or Russian, 
 mold. He was evidently distinctively Korean, being far above 
 the ordinary height of either the Chinaman or Japanese. Both 
 wore full black mustaches and side-whiskers, the latter Korean 
 having a long, bright T pink dress, with the same style of stock- 
 ings, shoes and hat. Both smoked incessantly, conversing by 
 fits and starts, while they could spare the time between the 
 enjoyable puffs of their Korean pipes, filled almost every min- 
 ute with the native tobacco. Each had a very good looking 
 gold watch of foreign manufacture, the time corresponding 
 closely to that of my own, which they insisted upon examin- 
 ing in comparison. 
 
 The Korean children are usually clothed in light-blue or 
 rose-colored garments, and rarely in extremes of either gaudy 
 or dark colors. The native-spun cotton cloth, similar to 
 
DRESS OF TIIE NATIVES. 
 
 21 
 
 the old Nankeens of China, and coarse cotton drills are the 
 materials chiefly used ; and, owing to the severe restrictions 
 imposed by the late regent,' already referred to, foreign manu- 
 facturers have had no chance lor introduction through China 
 and Japan. Woollens, now that the country is to be opened 
 up to foreigners, will, with our American cottons, (drills, 
 sheetings and jeans) which are regularly shipped to China to 
 the extent of 65,000 or 70,000 bales per annum, no doubt be 
 soon introduced into Korea by American merchants, and be- 
 come for the future regular staple articles of import into that 
 country, together with our petroleum, cheap hardware, clocks? 
 agricultural implements, scales, etc. Heretofore cotton-wad- 
 ded garments, with various kinds of skins and furs, have taken 
 the place of woollens. Silk garments are only worn by the 
 nobles and high functionaries, being brought from China, but 
 to a very limited extent. 
 
 The country people wear coarse straw-plaited sandals, those 
 able to do so using shoes or boots after the style of the 
 Chinese, but rather more European. The head-dresses of the 
 various classes, among the males, show some dozen different 
 styles ; the hats being chiefly of bamboo — some beautifully 
 lacquered — and of straw, oil-paper, etc. The women, also, 
 are very partial to white, wearing loose trousers and jackets, 
 over which a long robe fastened at the waist is donned. The 
 wives and daughters of the nobility and upper classes wear 
 silks of variegated colors. The handsomest women are said 
 to be in the northwest province of Puing-au-do, about two- 
 hundred and fifty miles from the capital ; while the best look- 
 ing and most stalwart men of the Empire are natives of the 
 southern province of Zen-ra-do. The features of both males 
 and females are, as a rule, more intelligent and prepossessing 
 than the Chinese. In fa6t, they are decidedly Mongolian, the 
 natives being undoubtedly of the Tung-usic stock, (coming 
 from the Mongols, Manchus, Japanese and Chinese) which has 
 peopled the whole of Northern Asia. In physique they ap- 
 pear stronger and more robust than the Chinamen, with well 
 developed limbs, but with rather darker skins. The average 
 height of the adult male is about five feet eight inches. Their 
 
22 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 frank and genial manners are very like those of the Japanese. 
 The Koreans are noted for the great affection they have for 
 their children, and filial piety ranks very high among this 
 oriental people. The men dress their hair with the small 
 top-knot, similar to the style formerly universal among the 
 Japanese under the Tycoonate, with this exception, that the 
 Japanese shaved the top of the head around the top-knot, 
 while the Koreans allow the hair to grow. This style is fol- 
 lowed by married men, the unmarried and boys parting the 
 hair in the middle, generally with a tail or cue reaching as far 
 as the waist. The ladies of the upper classes are fond of 
 forming curls with fancy pins and ornaments as fastenings, 
 while the lower classes dress the hair very plainly with the 
 exception of the cue. While the Japanese and Chinese, both 
 men and women, almost universally have jet black hair, 
 among the Koreans several colors, such as chestnut, brown 
 and even flaxen, are seen. 
 
 A great degree of honesty and faithfulness is said to exist 
 among this people, and when once the confidence of foreigners 
 is secured, there are good hopes of a far more rapid advance- 
 ment in moral education and enlightenment than was ex- 
 perienced with the Chinese during the early days of foreign 
 intercourse. The social standing of the women is very similar 
 to that existing in China, polygamy prevailing in a similar 
 degree, the number of wives varying according to the stand- 
 ing and wealth of the individual, but as a rule the lower 
 classes can afford but one wife at a time, and only this class 
 allow their wives to be seen in the public streets in the daytime 
 — the seclusion of the women from the royal family down, being 
 even more rigidly observed than in China. To compensate 
 them for this stri6l seclusion, we are informed by one writer 
 of the following order, which in Seoul and some other cities 
 was at one time enafted for their special benefit: At nine 
 o’clock in the evening, during summer, and earlier in winter, 
 the gates of the cities are closed at a given signal, when all 
 men are bound to leave the public streets, which are then 
 given up to the women for recreation and promenading. Any 
 male finding himself by accident in the streets is expected to 
 
DWELLINGS OF THE NATIVES. 
 
 23 
 
 hurry home. Severe punishment would follow any molesta- 
 tion of the promenaders. Good breeding also requires the 
 unfortunate male to cover his face with his fan, and he is not 
 supposed to even look at the fair promenaders but to cross to 
 the other side so as not to disturb or terrify them. 
 
 The houses of the bulk of the people are quite primitive ; 
 and generally one-storied, built of mud and straw ; while in 
 the cities, wood and brick, with tiled roofs, abound. They 
 are, however, inferior to the Japanese and Chinese dwellings, 
 even the residences of the royal family and nobility making 
 but little pretence to grandeur. In winter the Korean dwell- 
 ings are heated by a primitive sort of subterranean stone fur- 
 nace, built under the houses with flues running under each 
 room, the smoke finding outlet from a chimney about four feet 
 high in the rear of the compound. Oiled paper has been 
 heretofore used entirely for windows instead of glass, which is 
 now being imported moderately from Japan and China. Here, 
 no doubt is a cheap and most useful article which will soon be 
 imported quite largely from England and Germany, from 
 whence come all the imports of window-glass into China and 
 Japan. Korean paper is made chiefly from the bark of the 
 mulberry tree, and is famous all over the north of China on 
 account of its fine texture and strength. It is used for hand- 
 kerchiefs, umbrellas, partition wails, and for various domestic 
 purposes. Tables and chairs are not used, but like the Jap- 
 anese, the Korean always sits cross-legged. Their beds are 
 composed of ordinary mattresses, which are used by the whole 
 family in common ; but among the peasantry, and particular- 
 ly the large fishing population, even these are unknown. 
 Quilts of raw cotton are of common use among all classes. 
 
 1 he natives, as a rule, are temperate and plain in their habits, 
 although when the opportunity presents they do not refuse 
 foreign liquors. Rice, fish, fowl, pork and vegetables, as with 
 the Chinese and Japanese, form their daily food. Beef is very 
 scarce, and sheep were quite unknown in Korea until recently, 
 when the Japanese introduced the latter into the Wen-shan 
 district. Buckwheat, millet, and maize or corn, made into 
 coarse bread, also form part of their diet. Instead of using 
 
24 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 chop sticks to shovel their food into their mouths, as do the 
 Chinese, the natives use long spoons and knives, with forks of 
 two prongs, a decided improvement on the custom of their 
 neighbors. Very little tea is at present grown or used in 
 Korea. The very finest spring water exists in all sections, 
 and of this they drink very freely. 
 
 Of music, the Koreans of both sexes are passionately fond, 
 the intonation of the voice being like the Chinese in falsetto. 
 The violin and musical boxes are highly appreciated. 
 
 At funerals the Chinese custom of paid mourners prevails ; 
 and those who cry the loudest and weep the freest receive the 
 greatest reward. White hats are worn instead of black dur- 
 ing the mourning period. Marriages often take place at the 
 ages of fourteen and fifteen, although there is no special rule 
 applicable. The laws of Korea permit marriages in the fami- 
 ly, even between brothers and sisters. 
 
 Copper coin, larger than the Chinese, with square holes in 
 the middle, of about five hundred and forty pieces to the Mex- 
 ican dollar (of value of three shillings and eight pence ster- 
 ling) forms the only medium of ordinary money transactions. 
 Gold bars of about half the standard of fineness of Peking 
 gold, and silver of great purity, are made by the government, 
 for which treasuries and sub -treasuries are placed in the va- 
 rious cities and towns ; but as a rule neither of these precious 
 metals circulates freely in public. The Koreans greatly prize 
 the pure Chinese silver in Sycee form, having the government 
 touch or guarantee stamped on the same. Each of these shoes, 
 or lumps of Sycee, average in value about fifty-two taels, 
 Shanghae currency ; or sixty-two dollars gold, each. Gold, 
 silver, copper, iron and coal abound in various parts of the 
 kingdom ; but the mining of gold itself is strictly prohibited. 
 The working of all mines throughout the kingdom is under 
 government control entirely, any infringement on the part of 
 private individuals being punishable with death. The output 
 of both silver and copper is restricted to the smallest com- 
 pass ;• and in consequence the precious metals are imported 
 largely from Japan. This same national prejudice against dis- 
 turbing the metallic deposits of the earth exists in full force 
 
SUPERSTITIONS OF KOREANS AND CHINESE. 
 
 25 
 
 among the Chinese, with many of whom considered as 
 intelligent, by foreigners, I have often conversed on this sub- 
 ject. 
 
 It would I am sure surprise my friends present could they 
 hear some of the arguments the Chinese bring to bear to 
 show the fearful consequences incurred by digging deep holes 
 in the earth to extra6l the valuable ores which have lain dor- 
 ment from the foundation of the world. One of their greatest 
 fears is that, by the digging of deep pits, apparently into the 
 bowels of the earth, the world’s equilibrium will be disturbed, 
 and the equipoise of the turtle, which holds the earth on its 
 back, will be seriously endangered. 
 
 In the case of coal, that indispensable necessity for every- 
 day life, both for domestic and mechanical purposes, the 
 Chinese have countless millions of tons, from aftual surveys 
 by noted foreign geologists, in various portions of the Empire, 
 some of the mines cropping out with good serviceable coal 
 down to the water’s edge, on the banks of the Yangtze Kiang 
 river, near Chin Kiang, and yet the Chinese Mandarins have 
 refused all overtures for mining the same until very recently, 
 and now only permit it in a spasmodic manner. The govern- 
 ment itself prefers to pay large sums each year for coal from 
 England, Australia, Japan and America, rather than allow its 
 mines to be worked. But this is a digression from my subjefb 
 which I pray' you will pardon. 
 
 The same metric system of weights and measures existing 
 in China is current here. The divisions of time also were, 
 until late years, based upon the old Chinese calendar, but now 
 are reckoned by the reigning dynasty. 
 
 Every male subject capable of bearing arms is liable to 
 military duty. The armament of the soldiery is very primitive 
 in its nature, comprising bows and arrows with common match 
 locks and lances. A few old-fashioned breech loaders were 
 found by the Trench during their raid upon Kang-wha. 
 Torture is freely' employed in judicial cases, and decapitation 
 by' the sword is the usual form of execution, as with the 
 Chinese. 
 
 A most effective system of signaling by means of bon-fires 
 
26 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 at night from the tops of high hills and mountains, between 
 the coast and the capital, is regularly maintained, whereby 
 the government is kept very fully advised of the approach of 
 any foreign vessel. A postal system is maintained by the 
 government through the highways by horses. The late Min- 
 ister from Korea has taken a marked interest in our own 
 postal service, and will advocate reforms and marked improve- 
 ments on his return home. Education is ostensibly held in 
 high estimation in Korea, the same system of yearly examina- 
 tions at the capital, Seoul, for government positions, being fol- 
 lowed here as in Peking. It is interesting to learn from late 
 advices received from Seoul, that steps have already been 
 taken to establish schools for the common English branches, 
 and about one hundred scholars are receiving daily instruc- 
 tion at the hands of several of the educated Chinese lately re- 
 turned from Hartford, Conn'., to Peking, and thence to Korea. 
 Regular English or American teachers are intended to take 
 charge of these schools later on. The language differs de- 
 cidedly from both the Chinese and Japanese, but still it be- 
 longs to the Turanian family. The idiom is peculiar to this 
 people only, but in certain sections, notably in the northern 
 portions and near to the Chinese frontier, a sort of mixture of 
 Korean and Chinese exists, while throughout the south and 
 southeast, in the vicinity of Fusan, the chief trading port on 
 the extreme southeast coast and nearest to Japan, where the 
 Japanese, now numbering from two thousand five hundred to 
 three thousand, have naturally landed and traded for many 
 years past, a Japanese-Korean dialed!; has taken a strong hold 
 upon the natives. 
 
 The Chinese characters and classics are taught in their 
 schools, and every Korean who wishes to rise must master the 
 sacred books ol China. The native language is really greatly 
 neglected, the upper classes using Chinese freely, both in so- 
 cial intercourse and in literature. Even the annals of the 
 kingdom, the laws, the scientific treaties, and public instruc- 
 tions, and even the shop signs, are mostly written in Chinese. 
 The sacred books of Confucius are held in great veneration by 
 the majority of the people. 
 
CLIMATE. 
 
 27 
 
 The alphabet, which has a strong affinity with the present 
 Mongolian tongue, consists of twenty-eight letters, of which 
 thirteen are single vowels and diphthongs and fifteen conson- 
 ants, and is not so very dissimilar to our own when compared 
 to the Chinese language, which is one of characters only. 
 
 Of the climate we have very favorable reports ; and as 
 the extremes of temperature are included between the paral- 
 lels of 34 0 and 42 0 north latitude, with the sea on either side 
 of the peninsula, the summers are not over-hot, having fresh 
 cool breezes ; while the southern or populated districts be- 
 tween 35 0 and 38°, are not uncomfortably cold even in the 
 extremes of winter. The spring and autumn seasons are 
 simply delightful. The action of the northeast Monsoon 
 winds from October to April, and of the southwest Monsoon 
 winds from May to September, has no doubt a marked effect 
 upon the temperature, and the difference is that usually shown 
 between the Pacific and Atlantic ocean watered countries, 
 viz.: a temperature on the Pacific warmer in winter and cooler 
 in summer than prevails in those parts of the United States or 
 Europe lying in the same latitude but bordering on the Atlantic 
 ocean. This absence of the intense summer heat between 
 July and September, experienced by foreign residents in China 
 ports, from Tsientsin to Canton, cases of sunstroke being rare, 
 makes the climate resemble that of Southern Europe ; and 
 gives ample proof to the traveler of its great advantages over 
 all other heretofore accepted summer resorts and sanitariums 
 in either China or Japan. If further evidence were needed, it 
 could be shown in the large number of old people, and gener- 
 al ruggedness noticeable in the physique of the natives, which 
 is apparent in both young and old of either sex. And here I 
 may mention, that when in Shanghae in May last, I was told 
 by friends there, who with their families are accustomed to 
 visit Cheefoo as a seaside sanitarium during the excessive 
 heats of July and August, that they should make similar trips 
 to Korea in preference, as soon as suitable communication and 
 accommodations were provided. 
 
 The soil is naturally very rich, and with such a beautiful 
 climate all kinds of flowers, roots, trees and vegetables can be 
 raised luxuriantly. 
 
28 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 Tobacco is grown in many parts of the Empire and is wide- 
 ly used by the natives. The chilli pepper, red and green, of 
 large size, is cultivated to an enormous extent, and no Korean 
 dish is ever set forth until it is copiously dressed with this 
 national sauce ; and Korea might be called a land, not of lotus 
 eaters, but pepper eaters. 
 
 Very fine forests of oak, beach, pine, fir, elm, birch, etc., are 
 found ; while in the central districts particularly the cork, 
 mulberry and varnish tree flourish, the latter furnishing the 
 beautiful, gold-colored varnish so highly prized for lacquer 
 and miaco work, in Japan and China. 
 
 In a country so hilly and mountainous as Korea, and so 
 densely wooded, cover is given to various descriptions of wild 
 animals, notably’ bears, and a small species of tiger much in- 
 ferior to the Indian varieties. 
 
 The horses, like those of native growth in Janan, are dimin- 
 utive, very strong, and at the same time most vicious in their 
 dispositions, like the Japanese ; and this I well remember from 
 personal experience. As a rule all the animals of both Korea 
 and Japan are diminutive in stature when compared with those 
 of our own country or Europe. 
 
 The raising of dogs for ordinary' food is as common as the 
 rearing of sheep with us. Goats and sheep are raised only 
 under the King's auspices for sacrificial purposes. 
 
 Naturally the possession of such rich forests will very' soon 
 bring about the establishment of steam saw-mills, by means 
 of which China, particularly', will largely receive her sup- 
 plies of lumber, now imported from Puget Sound, Singapore, 
 the Phillipines and Japan. While in Shanghae I learned 
 that a Chinese company' of lumber dealers had already 
 sent a trustworthy foreigner, Mr. Stripling, to Korea, with 
 the object of cutting and shipping to Shanghae, timber such 
 as for centuries past Fuchow has furnished to the whole of 
 China through its enormous wood junk trade concentrated in 
 the Fohkien province, of which the sea port of Fuchow is the 
 natural and convenient outlet. 
 
 The Koreans have not as yet developed any' marked taste 
 for horticulture, but under the example and influence of foreign 
 
EXPORT OF SILK AND TEA PROMISING. 
 
 29 
 
 intercourse now about to be developed in Korea I look for a 
 decided improvement in this respedl at no distant day. In 
 raw silk, too, with the advent of expert Chinese from the silk 
 hongs in Shanghae, who have lately gone to Korea, and of 
 other foreigners having a due appreciation of its great value 
 and ever increasing demand, and with the mulberry tree 
 actually growing wild and now comparatively neglefted, we 
 ought in due time to see a valuable and rapidly developing 
 export trade, whereby Korea shall be made to come forward 
 and claim her rights as a successful competitor with China, 
 Japan and Italy, the three great producing countries of this 
 most valuable and necessary staple. The silk worms’ eggs 
 also should in due time prove to be to Korea as they have to 
 Japan for many years past, one of her most valuable exports to 
 the continent of Europe. Of raw silk, Her Von Muilendorff 
 is so sanguine as to predict an export of twenty thousand 
 bales within a few years, but these must, I think, be considered 
 as extreme figures. The tea plant, too, can here be made 
 available and of good value ; and while at present growing 
 wild and unappreciated by the Koreans, it would undoubtedly 
 have the same advantages as have existed in the island of 
 Formosa, viz. : a rich, virgin soil, developing a tender, pale 
 and delicate leaf, with rich cup infusion, qualities so highly 
 prized by our importers and experts in the tea trade. 
 
 file bamboo tree, which our friend Dr. S. Wells Williams, in 
 his most valuable work on China, entitled The Middle King-- 
 don/, aptly calls the national plant of China, (being used both 
 for food and for hundreds of domestic and mechanical pur- 
 poses) here grows to perfection ; and the grape, strawberry, 
 plum, peach, apricot, persimmon, apple and pear all grow 
 wild, requiring but the simplest modes of care and cultivation 
 to ensure greater perfection. With a climate more mild and 
 humid than that of the Atlantic States, the fruits are less 
 hardy and do not preserve their richness as with us. Of fish 
 there are plentiful varieties and of the best, descriptions. 
 
 The natives with little or no exertion, and through the 
 bounty of mother earth, easily secure the necessities of life, 
 but they either do not care, or are without the knowledge 
 
3 ° 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 requisite, to bring in those sources of income and revenue 
 beyond their own individual wants, which the government 
 will soon require for its increased expenditures, brought about 
 by the opening of its doors, followed by the advent of Western 
 nations. 
 
 The cotton plant, hemp, flax, indigo, and many indispens- 
 able domestic cereals such as rice, wheat, rye, &c., are raised 
 plentifully. The Korean cotton is far superior to the staple 
 raised in China, being longer and of a fine silky fibre, similar to 
 our own Carolina staple. A variety of clays from which ex- 
 cellent pottery is made are found in the southeastern provinces. 
 
 Ginseng, that wonderful medicinal root so highly prized by 
 the Chinese, is here raised, and forms a regular article of ex- 
 port to Peking and to Japan. It evidently corresponds to our 
 own highly esteemed quinine in the universality of its use and 
 the marvelous curative powers ascribed to it. 
 
 On my voyage from Shangae to San Francisco I met a most 
 entertaining companion and former acquaintance, Mr. John 
 Fryer, an English gentleman. Fie has been for 23 years in 
 China, the most of the time in Chinese government employ, 
 and of late has been engaged in interpreting scientific works 
 from the Engligh and German into Chinese. 
 
 Mr. Fryer is a thorough Chinese scholar, an Anglo-Chinese 
 Mandarin of the third grade, and an old resident of Peking ; 
 and taking a warm interest in my work, he very kindly wrote 
 up the following little dissertation on Ginseng, which I would 
 here like to present to you : “ The word Ginseng,” says Mr. 
 
 Fryer, “ is apparently of purely Chinese origin, and consists 
 “ of two Chinese characters : ‘ jen,’ meaning man, and ‘ shen,’ 
 “ the name of a kind of root, of which there are many varie- 
 “ ties. This particular kind of root, in its most valuable form 
 “is fork-shaped, and hence resembles the legs of a man, so 
 “ that possibly the name simply means, the ‘ man-shaped root.’ 
 “ The other and cheaper kinds of shen-root, are designated 
 “ either from their physical appearance, or the locality where 
 “ they are produced, e. g. Korean Shen, or Foreign Shen, 
 “ much of the latter coming from Iowa. 
 
 “ A present of Ginseng is considered to be the most valu- 
 
GINSENG. 
 
 31 
 
 “able that can be made to any one who is known to be in ill 
 “ health. Notices frequently appear in the Peking Gazette of 
 “ presents of so many ounces, or rather ‘ taels ’ weight of 
 “.Ginseng, being made by the Emperor to some high official, 
 “ who pleads severe sickness as a reason for retiring from 
 “office. From time immemorial Ginseng has stood at the 
 “ head of all drugs in the Chinese estimation, coming down 
 “ from such high antiquity, its almost fabulous virtues and 
 “qualities are, of course, beyond question. It is the medicine 
 “ of medicines, and to entertain doubts as to its general effi- 
 “ cacy, as a panacea for all ills that human flesh is heir to, is 
 “ to argue one’s self an ignoramus. The Chinese divide their 
 “ drugs into two classes, the warm and the cold. A warm 
 “ disease requires a cold medicine, and vice versa. Ginseng 
 “stands at the head of warm medicines, and is supposed to be 
 “capable of restoring the animal warmth and keeping up the 
 “circulation, even when the spark of life is almost extinct. 
 
 “The absurd stories that are told and believed in by 
 “ Chinese literati as to the wonderful properties of this highly 
 “ popular root, are enough to provoke a smile from the most 
 “ astute foreigner. When residing in Peking, the native grad- 
 “ uate who taught me the Mandarin dialect informed me with 
 “ all gravity that the virtues of Ginseng were so great that 
 “ the plant had almost the same powers of locomotion as if 
 “ it belonged to the animal kingdom, it being able to trans- 
 “ port itself from place to place. Hence, the best varieties, 
 “some of which are worth more than their weight in gold, are 
 “only to be found and obtained with the greatest difficulty. 
 “ The plant has literally to be hunted. Men go out by moon- 
 “ light, armed with bows and arrows, and shoot it as it tries 
 “to evade them. Further, the root when taken has to be pre- 
 “ served with great care, lest it should run away. Having the 
 “ shape of a man it can use its two legs with such effect that 
 “ when once it gets started there is no catching it. Having 
 “expressed my doubts on this point in the gentlest manner 
 “ possible, my Chinese teacher seemed considerably annoyed 
 “ at my presumption, and proceeded to confirm his position 
 “ by illustrating the motion with his fingers and narrating a 
 
32 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 “ fa<5t which he knew to be authentic. A man in the country 
 “ had a root of Ginseng of the very choicest description, prized 
 “ most highly, and kept wrapped in a paper and securely 
 “ locked in a box. One night in winter he forgot to lock the 
 “box ; the consequence was, that the next day the root was 
 “ missing. Search was made all over the house, but in vain. 
 “ At last it occurred to the owner that as there had been a 
 “heavy fall of snow during the night, the footprints of the 
 “ thief could be easily traced. Strange to say there were no 
 “human footprints, but they found the tracks of the root, 
 “which were followed for many miles on the snow, but with- 
 “ out catching the runaway, because of the long start it had 
 “ before its loss was discovered. Verily one would think that 
 “a man who would believe this yarn would swallow almost 
 “ anything, and yet my Chinese friend narrated his story with 
 “the utmost candor and dignity, evidently fully believing it 
 “ to be stricSlly true. The Korean Ginseng is held in high 
 “ repute, especially in Peking. Every year there is an Embassy 
 “ bearing tribute from the King of Korea, which arrives at the 
 “ capital in the winter time. Various merchants accompany 
 “ the tribute of Ginseng, paper and other goods, which are 
 “carried in rudely formed carts drawn by the diminutive and 
 “ spirited Korean ponies. There are special quarters for their 
 “accommodations near the Tsein-men, or chief entrance to 
 “ the Tartar City. For some little time after their arrival the 
 “ white dress and horse-hair gauze hats which distinguish the 
 “ Korean garb, are to be seen in the streets and suburbs, as 
 “the Ginseng pedlers carry about their favorite drug for sale. 
 “ In the street where they trade are many Chinese Ginseng 
 “shops where the drug may be purchased all the year round. 
 “ So numerous are those shops that the sign boards seem to 
 “ bear scarcely any other Chinese characters, and the street is 
 “sometimes known as the Ginseng street.” 
 
 The following account ot the cultivation of Ginseng and the 
 wild plant in Korea, is taken from the report of the Commis- 
 sioner of Chinese Customs at Newchwang, one of the open 
 treaty ports in the north of China : “ The chief items which 
 
 “ the Koreans bring across the border into China is Ginseng, 
 
THE OPENING UP OF KOREA. 
 
 33 
 
 “and this is the most valuable of all roots or drugs. Wild 
 “ ginseng is found among the hills, and takes more than thirty 
 “ years to arrive at perfection. The root can be used when it 
 “has been in the ground about twelve years, but it is not so 
 “valuable as that of mature age. The other kinds of ginseng, 
 “ known as first and second quality Korean, are a special 
 “branch of culture. Only well-to-do people can afford to set 
 “apart the ground for its cultivation, and to devote to it the 
 “ time which it requires. The usual period allowed for the 
 “root to attain its full growth when under cultivation is from 
 “ five to six years. It is then dug up, washed and dried in a 
 “ pan over a fire, and after the skin has been scraped away it 
 “ is ready for the market. Once every year a small red flower 
 “ is put forth, the seed from which is carefully preserved and 
 “ sown the following year.” 
 
 Up to within a year the Koreans had defied all attempts 
 to open up foreign trade either by lorce, through the aCtion 
 of the French Admiral Roze in 1866, or peaceably by the 
 American Admiral Rogers, and United States Minister Low, 
 in 1870. Now that the gates have been opened, however, it 
 seems to be generally conceded by the missionaries and trav- 
 ellers with whom I have conversed, or whose works I have 
 read, that while Korea is a country of but small area, as com- 
 pared to China, and about one-third the population of Japan, 
 the United States is v in the most favorable position to 
 secure the trade of this country. The geographical position 
 of the two countries, the quick and regular communication 
 offered by railroads across the American continent, and steam- 
 ers to Japan every twelve or fifteen days from San Francisco 
 give the United States a great commercial advantage over 
 any other western nation. 
 
 About i860, during the Peiho war between China, England 
 and France, Commodore Schufeldt was in China, in command 
 of the United States Steamship “ Wachusetts.” I then had 
 the pleasure of his acquaintance, and as he is a man of most 
 genial disposition and entertaining manners, I can well under- 
 stand why our Government honored him with the high ap- 
 pointment of Commissioner Plenipotentiary, for the special 
 
34 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 purpose of negotiating a treaty with Korea. I had held cor- 
 respondence with Com. Schufeldt, at Washington, previous to 
 my going to China in March last, in relation to his treaty, but 
 as it had not then been before Congress for ratification, he 
 could naturally impart but little of that information which I 
 desired to seek. I have since my return received from the 
 State Department an official copy. 
 
 This treaty with Korea, or Chosun, as it is termed in the 
 official copy, was concluded between Com. Schufeldt and the 
 Korean Commissioners, at the little port of Ren-shan, or Yin- 
 chuen, but a few miles from the capital, on the 22d day of 
 May, 1882, ratified by President Arthur, Feb. 13, 1883, and by 
 the King of Tah Chosun and Minister Foote, at Seoul, on the 
 19th of May, 1883. 
 
 There are fourteen different articles in the treaty. The 
 first relates to perpetual peace and amity between the two 
 countries. The second refers to appointment of Consuls — and 
 I am pleased to see that no merchants are to be permitted to 
 exercise the duties of this office, higher respect always being 
 accorded by Oriental nations to full official and diplomatic 
 appointees. The third clause secures perfedt protection to 
 shipwrecked mariners, repairs to vessels, & c. Article fourth 
 secures protection to Americans, either resident or traveling 
 in Korea ; and, until such time as the United States considers 
 that Korea is fully prepared under civilized judicial procedures 
 to administer local laws in full or fair accord with our own, 
 the same rights of exterritoriality which by treaty are de- 
 manded of China and Japan, are also to be required from 
 Korea. Article fifth regulates duties and tonnage dues be- 
 tween the respedlive countries. Ten per cent, is the rate of 
 duty upon articles of daily use, but upon luxuries, such as 
 wines, clocks and watches, the high rate of thirty per cent, is 
 established. It is gratifying to see that the troublesome Le- 
 kim Tax of China, supposed to be equal to half import duty 
 in lieu of all inland taxes, does not enter into the tariff reg- 
 ulations of Korea. Article sixth permits the renting of 
 premises, and building of warehouses and residences in both 
 countries ; and in the United States Koreans can purchase 
 
TREATY WITH THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 35 
 
 land, ? but in Chosun as in China, while citizens can lease land 
 for almost indefinite time, the King reserves to himself the 
 right of eminent domain. At present all traffic with Korea 
 is limited to the three treaty ports. Article seventh prohibits 
 the import of opium, either into Chosun or the United States ; 
 and under clause eighth , in time of scarcity, the export of 
 breadstuff's may be prohibited. Ginseng (Korean) of native 
 growth cannot be exported from Korea by Americans. Article 
 ninth limits the dealings in arms and amunition in Chosun to 
 officials of the government, except by special Imperial per- 
 mits. Article tenth authorizes arrests of subjects of Chosun 
 guilty of violation of the laws, who may be harbored by 
 Americans, either on shore or on board ship. Under the 
 eleventh clause of the treaty, students of either nationality are 
 to be given full protection and assistance in the prosecution of 
 their studies, as an evidence of cordial good will. Clause 
 twelfth stipulates for a further negotiation or revision of the 
 treaty after a period of five years from the 22d of May, 1882, 
 when the two nations will be better acquainted with each 
 other. I think it would have been preferable had this limit of 
 time been three instead of five years, believing as I do, that 
 the concession of twice the rates of duty charged by the 
 Chinese tariff, which is based on five instead of ten per cent, 
 ad valorum, is a mistake, and will work to the disadvantage of 
 the people of Korea. Article thirteenth stipulates that all 
 official correspondence on the part of Korea shall be in the 
 Chinese language, while the United States shall either use 
 Chinese, or English accompanied by a Chinese version, to 
 avoid misunderstandings. Article fourteenth provides the 
 usual favored-nation clause conceded by all Oriental treaties, 
 whereby we also are to receive the benefits conceded by 
 Korea to other countries by subsequent treaties. This clause 
 also requires a ratification of the treaty at Yin Chuen within 
 one year from the date of its execution. 
 
 By an addenda, the United States Senate requires of Korea 
 that American ships shall have the privilege of going from 
 one open port to another open port, to receive Korean cargo 
 for exportation, or to discharge foreign cargo. Publicity was 
 
36 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 given to this convention by President Arthur on the 4th of 
 June, 1883. It will be noticed that no mention whatsoever 
 is made in the official copy of the treaty of the alleged claims 
 of China of suzerainty over Korea, although in the Chinese 
 versions of this same treaty, first published in China, the 
 Chinese claimed that Korea had made this concession in the 
 preliminary to the convention. Still, Commodore Schufeldt 
 in Ins letter to the Secretary of State, accompanying his own 
 copy of the treaty, mentions that he had promised to forward 
 a letter from the King to the President, stating the political 
 relations existing between Korea and China * The English 
 think that Commodore Schufeldt, guided by Li-hung-chang, 
 has conceded too much in allowing a basis of ten per cent, on 
 import duties, which in China and Japan are on a five per cent, 
 basis. This concession to Korea, on the part of the United 
 States, will, I think, be quoted and used by China at some 
 future time, when fresh treaty negotiations are pending be- 
 tween China and our own government. Li-hung-chang has 
 secured for his protege, the China Merchants Steamship Com- 
 pany, valuable advantages in connection with the coast 
 freighting business between China and Korea ; and the cus- 
 toms service is to be arranged on the same basis as the 
 Chinese, under the charge of a foreign official, Herr Von 
 Mullendorff with headquarters at Seoul. This officer, former- 
 ly German Consul at Tientsin, and lately attached to the staff 
 of Li-hung-chang, was recommended by Sir Robert Hart, 
 Inspector General of Chinese customs, and accepted by the 
 Tah-Chosun government. 
 
 English merchants in China are greatly disappointed that 
 our Commissioner did not insist on a general opening up of 
 the interior of the country instead of restricting our mer- 
 chants to three small treaty ports. 
 
 It is a matter of surprise that, in the official treaty, not one 
 word is said about the rights of missionaries to travel and 
 preach the Gospel in Korea ; and this omission is by the east- 
 ern residents considered as a refusal, on the part of Korea, to 
 
 * Official copies of this treaty may be had upon addressing the Slate Depart- 
 ment at Washington, D. C. 
 
TREATY WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 37 
 
 grant this privilege. The Roman Catholics, however, who 
 are already in the country in large numbers with their con- 
 verts, must of course be allowed to remain. 
 
 The Tsung-li-yamen, the Chinese foreign office at Peking, 
 is said to have insisted on the omission of the missionary 
 clause from our treaty ; and its representative, Ma-chien- 
 chung, seems to have seen this point well protected ; in fa6t, 
 from the beginning to the end of all the negotiations, the 
 hand or personality of the great Chinese Viceroy is to me per- 
 fectly apparent. Li it was, who early in 1882 addressed a 
 letter to the King urging the opening up of the country ; 
 and all through the treaty itself, the dictation of this astute 
 Oriental statesman is evident. 
 
 France will, no doubt, when her turn comes to negotiate a 
 treaty, insist upon a strong missionary clause as sine qua non. 
 England, too, will, I have good reason to believe, bring for- 
 ward this special request, which Commodore Schufeldt seems 
 not to have proposed, or at least not to have enforced. 
 
 Traffic in opium by Americans is, I am pleased to see, posi- 
 tively prohibited, and this concession to Korea will, I believe, 
 receive serious attention, and may be objected to strenuously 
 by Great Britain. The use of this pernicious drug is very 
 limited throughout the kingdom of Korea. 
 
 Ma-chien-chung, above referred to as the representative 
 of the Chinese foreign office, with four Chinese men of war, 
 accompanied Commodore Schufeldt from Tsientin to Korea 
 early in May, 1882, to assist in making this treaty. He is the 
 same official who was sent by the Chinese Viceroy, Li-lning- 
 chang, to India, to confer with the Viceroy of India, relative 
 to the restriction of the opium traffic with China, which the 
 Chinese government have long desired to have imposed ; but 
 which England refuses, on the score of its being her chief 
 source of Indian revenue. Ma’s instructions in the Korean 
 negotiations were to assist Commodore Schufeldt, but at the 
 same time to look closely after the interests of China, and 
 this he seems to have done most effectually. 
 
 The English, through Admiral Willes, following the United 
 States, made a treaty with Korea at Ren-shan on the 6th of 
 
38 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 June, 1882, the terms of which were based on the American 
 treaty ; but its ratification has been refused on the part of the 
 British Government, owing to the great objections raised by 
 British merchants in the East, to the terms stipulated, they 
 being considered far less acceptable than those in the Chinese 
 treaty, made by Lord Elgin twenty-four years ago. 
 
 By late advices received from Shanghae, I learn that Sir 
 Harry Parkcs, H. B. M. Minister to Peking, was about to leave 
 for Korea for the purpose of negotiating a new treaty, or to 
 modify that made originally by Admiral Willes.* 
 
 The Russians, Germans, French and Italians have all had 
 their naval vessels and representatives close at hand ready, 
 whenever the opportunity should present, to press forward 
 the claims of their respective governments, to treaty recogni- 
 tion by the Korean authorities. 
 
 Attached to the Korean Embassy lately visiting this coun- 
 try, with whom I have made a very pleasant acquaintance, was 
 an intelligent and genial young American naval officer, Ensign 
 George C. Foulk, who acted as interpreter from English into 
 Japanese, from which language the Korean Secretary trans- 
 lated into Korean, thus keeping H. E. Min-yong-ik fully 
 informed of all that was going on. Ensign Foulk has been 
 for some time attached to United States naval vessels in 
 Japan and China, and in June, 1882, only one month after 
 Commodore Schufeldt had made his treaty, Mr. Foulk visited 
 Fusan and Gensan, in Korea, on his way from Japan to Europe, 
 via. Siberia. The results of his trip along the eastern coast 
 of Korea, as well as his journey through Siberia, have been 
 very pleasantly and graphically recounted in a small volume 
 issued by the Navy Department, a copy of which Mr. Foulk 
 has given me, and which I shall take pleasure in placing on 
 our Society’s table. From this interesting volume I have only 
 time to make the following brief extracts. Speaking of the 
 natives of Korea, Mr. Foulk says : 
 
 “ Both men and women were tall and well formed, and in 
 “ personal appearance and manners, more likely to command 
 
 * .Since the above was written Korea and Great Britain have concluded their treaty, 
 prohibiting opium. 
 
ENSIGN FOULK’S TRAVELS IN KOREA. 
 
 39 
 
 “ the respect of foreigners than either the Japanese or Chinese 
 “ in their original conditions. Their faces were broad and 
 “features large, with finely shaped heads. The stolid, impas- 
 “ sive expression of the Chinese, or the sly, crafty appearance 
 “ so commonly observed in Japan and China, was rarely notice- 
 “ able among the Koreans. We thought them frank and 
 “honest in expression, pleasing though timid. Their com- 
 “ plexion was of a redder tint than that of the Japanese or 
 “ Chinese. The hair varied in color from black to light red- 
 ■“ dish brown. White clothes made of cotton were almost 
 “ invariably worn, wadded in winter with cotton. The lan- 
 “ guage spoken at Fusan was a dialect of Korean peculiar to 
 “the province of Kiung-sang, in which Fusan is situated. It 
 “closely resembles Japanese in many respects, which doubt- 
 “ less explains the fluency with which Fusan Koreans speak 
 “ the latter language. As in Japan, the educated people use 
 “ Chinese largely in speaking and writing. Education up to a 
 “ certain standard is very general, almost everybody in the 
 “ land, women excepted, being able to write in the Chinese 
 “characters. Young boys could reply easily in Chinese to 
 “ our questions given them in that language. We were told 
 “ that in every town or village, schools abound at which boys 
 “are taught to read and write the one thousand Chinese 
 “ characters, which make up the common school education. 
 “ We were told that Korean men treat women with much 
 “ more courtesy and consideration than is common in other 
 “parts of the east. On our way to Wen-shan from Fusan, 
 “ and about ninety-five miles distant from Wen-shan, we 
 “ passed two high mountain peaks about five thousand and 
 “eight thousand feet high. The harbor of Wen-shan, called 
 “ by the Russians Port Lazareff, is one of the finest in the 
 ‘‘world; the beautiful mountain headlands dropping steep 
 “ down and close up to the water’s edge, but with here and 
 “ there belts of low level land with trees and beautiful grass 
 “ plots, among which are situated the Korean and Japanese 
 “ towns.” 
 
 Wen-shan was opened to Japan in 1880. 
 
 I have had numerous enquires in regard to the import and 
 
40 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 export trade of this country for the past five or six years, and 
 also as to the prospects for the future, and have taken some 
 little pains to procure reliable information, as far as it can be 
 secured. From the British Legation in Tokio, the capital of 
 Japan, I have obtained the following valuable statistics: 
 
 For the year ending June 30th, 1877, the entire foreign im- 
 port trade into Korea was yen 348,000, equal to gold $250,000 
 (the yen being valued at about seventy cents gold, or eighty 
 cents Mexican), whilst in 1 88 1 , the imports had increased in 
 value to yen 3.800,000, or gold $2,700,000, showing in four 
 years an increase of more than ten-fold. 
 
 General Foote in his letter to me dated July 13th last, intro- 
 ducing the Embassy, mentions that the trade of Japan alone 
 with Korea in 1882 amounted to fully $3,000,000, or nearly 
 equal to that of the previous four years together. The ex- 
 ports for the five years from 1877 to 1882 amounted to yen 
 5, 100,000, or gold $3,600,000; while the balance of trade in 
 favor of Korea was equal to yen 501,000, or gold $350,000. 
 Of foreign shipping (Chinese and Japanese) in 1878, 1900 tons 
 had been entered and cleared, whilst in 1880 27,000 tons, an 
 increase of fourteen-fold, had arrived and departed from 
 Koren ports. If such results have been brought about with 
 but one or two open ports, and trading only with China and 
 Japan, what may we not expect from the opening up of addi- 
 tional ports, and the advent of a more extended trade with 
 enterprising western nations having the great facilities of 
 Gieap and rapid steam communication, via. the Suez canal, and 
 by way of San Francisco and Japan ? 
 
 After six years of commercial intercourse with the 
 Japanese at Fusan, the Koreans now take as Imports, (chiefly 
 from Japanese ports), the following merchandise : Cotton 
 
 goods (American and English), American petroleum, flour, 
 tin plates, iron, glass, dyes, tools and machinery, clocks, 
 watches, hardware, iron hollow ware, lacquer work, and foreign 
 nick-nacks. Of exports, the principal articles sent to Japan 
 and China are: Gold-dust and silver, ginseng, cotton, hemp, 
 (of very fine quality and of early growth), flax, tobacco, indigo, 
 hides, biche-de-mer, fish, rice, raw silk, fans, bamboo, furs of 
 
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 
 
 41 
 
 many kinds, paper, and various plants yielding paper stock, 
 peony bark, gall-nuts, varnishes and lacquers, oil, timber, and 
 innumerable articles for domestic use. 
 
 At Fusan the Japanese government has a concession of 
 forty-two acres of ground on which are some imposing build- 
 ings. The Japanese Legation comprises a Minister, secre- 
 taries, interpreters, military officers, policemen, students, and 
 servants, about forty persons in all. 
 
 An exposition of Japanese, American and European goods 
 was held at Fusan, some little time since, attended by fully 
 25,000 people, and proved to be a great success. About three- 
 quarters of all the goods sold were American (cotton drills, 
 sheetings and jeans, petroleum, clocks, watches, hardware, 
 &c.) and European ; the balance being Japanese and Chinese. 
 
 Another little reminiscence of personal experience in Korea, 
 to which I believe you will be pleased to listen, I will here 
 record, as I can but think that all such reliable information is 
 of special value, coming from a country about which we have 
 heretofore known little or nothing. In June, 1865, the Ameri- 
 can schooner Surprise, Captain C. H. McCaslin, formerly 
 in command of a small steamer belonging to my firm in 
 Shanghae, was totally wrecked on the Korean coast near a 
 fishing village, about thirty miles north of the Han-yan river. 
 From Captain McCaslin, I obtained in May last the following 
 information in regard to his unfortunate experience in being 
 cast away on that dangerous coast. After great perils the 
 crew, consisting of nine persons, reached the shore in safety 
 and at once started northwest for the frontier walled city of 
 Moukden, distant about one hundred and seventy miles. At 
 this city, about three miles inland from Black river, they 
 stopped ten days, awaiting the arrival of a tribute caravan en 
 route to Peking. After camping one day and night on neutral 
 ground between Korea and China, they started for Newchwang 
 and Chefoo. Throughout Korea they passed through a finely 
 wooded and agricultural country, with abundant signs of 
 mineral deposits, such as coal, iron, copper, &c. The natives, 
 I am sorry to sav, treated Captain McCaslin and his com- 
 panions very badly, and they were from day to day almost 
 
42 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 without food, except when plucking the ears of corn and 
 eating the native cucumbers, melons, and such other veget- 
 ables as they could lay hands upon. They fortunately 
 chanced to meet a French Jesuit priest conversant with the 
 language, to whose kind and urgent intercessions with the 
 natives and officials the party really owed its safe deliverance. 
 For this good Samaritan act, this Jesuit priest was presented 
 by President Johnson with a handsome testimonial, a gold 
 watch and chain. The Chinese, too, were very uncivil and 
 treated them shamefully. After spending nearly three months 
 in Korea and Moukden, they reached Newchwang in company 
 with the tribute Embassy, to which they rendered valuable 
 assistance in crossing streams and dangerous passes with their 
 bullocks and other animals, thereby gaining their confidence 
 and good favor, and receiving in return the supplies of which 
 they stood greatly in need. From Newchwang and Chefoo 
 they took passage for Shanghae. 
 
 As one good effefl of this opening up of Korea under our 
 treaty, we have a right to believe that such treatment of ship- 
 wrecked crews thrown upon that coast cannot possibly take 
 place in the future. 
 
 And now a few words in regard to one of the greatest 
 living aFtors of to-day, prominent on the stage of Oriental 
 diplomacy in the Far East, a man who exercises a very pow- 
 erful influence for good, as an exponent of modern progressive 
 ideas, which, coming from a Chinamen, we appreciate all the 
 more. Not only in Korea has this influence been strongly 
 felt, bringing about the grand results which we have already 
 herein recorded, but in China, among the Mandarins and offi- 
 cials generally, a large portion of whom are known to be hos- 
 tile to foreign intercourse, this Chinaman is gradually bringing 
 about a revulsion of feeling favorable to the outer world. I 
 refer to that greatest of Chinese statesmen, Li-hung-chang, 
 Grand Secretary ; in reality, Prime Minister of China, Senior 
 Guardian of the Emperor, and Viceroy of Chihli. Exercising 
 her old traditional claims of suzerainty over Annam, China has 
 sent Li-hung-chang, as its most trusted representative, south 
 from Peking to Shanghae, that he may be nearer the scene of 
 
LI- HUNG -CHANG. 
 
 43 
 
 action, and more readily communicate with the Annamese 
 authorities, and there meet the French representatives if nec- 
 essary, to treat for terms of compromise, or other settlement 
 of their difficulties. 
 
 The French in Annam, or Cochin China, or Cambodia, 
 as it was called in our earlier days, are giving' the Chinese 
 government a great deal of anxiety, for between Annam, 
 which the French have largely controlled for the past thirty 
 years, with their headquarters at Saigon, and China’s south- 
 ernmost provinces of Kwang-si and Yunnan lies Tong-king, 
 bordering on the East upon the Gulf of Tong-king. The 
 French insist upon exercising at least a joint control with 
 China over certain portions of both Annam and Tong- 
 king, in return for which concession on the part of 
 China, France is willing to acknowledge China’s claims of 
 suzerainty over Annam, and to agree on certain conditions 
 to establish a neutral belt of territory, with the Red river 
 as the dividing line, as a sort of guarantee of China’s inde- 
 pendence and safety at the South. The Chinese, however, 
 positively refuse to treat with France on any such basis. The 
 French are never satisfied, and keep pushing on farther and 
 farther, very much to the annoyance of the Chinese, as 
 neither the English or Americans attempt to enforce any 
 such schemes. Naturally, China feels much stronger and 
 more independent than she did fifteen or twenty years ago. 
 She is to-day inclined to resist these inroads on the part of 
 the French on her borders, and war between the two nations 
 seems inevitable. 
 
 On the thirtieth of May last, the very day 1 left China for 
 Japan and America, Li-hung-chang arrived in Shanghae, this 
 being his first visit there for twenty-one years. The streets 
 were crowded with both natives and foreigners. Amidst the 
 booming of cannon from the Chinese gun-boats in the Whang- 
 poa river, and the burning of much powder on shore, Li 
 landed in the foreign settlement, escorted by a very fair array 
 of Chinese troops. Mandarins, and attendants on horse-back 
 and in sedan chairs, preceded by a native band drilled by 
 French officers. His own sedan chair and eight bearers were 
 
44 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 dressed in deep mourning, out of reverence for his deceased 
 mother, for whom Chinese official etiquette requires, as a rule, 
 full three years mourning, generally attended by strict seclu- 
 sion. In this special case, by an edift of the Emperor, only 
 one hundred days were allowed to Li, his services at this crit- 
 ical state of affairs with the French being considered indis- 
 pensable. 
 
 Li at once proceeded to his temporary residence in the for- 
 eign settlement of Shanghae opposite the English Cathedral, 
 these quarters very singularly having been about fifteen years 
 ago the offices and residence, or hong, of my firm, now trans- 
 formed into the extensive premises of the China Merchants 
 Steamship Company, a joint protege so to speak of Li-hung- 
 charig and his enterprising and valued friend, Tong-king- 
 sing. This company now runs a line of steamers from Shang- 
 hae to Korean ports via Chefoo. 
 
 Tong-king-sing was for many years in the employ of the 
 well-known English firm of Jardine, Matheson & Co., in 
 Shanghae, as compradore or head Chinese employe. He has 
 a very good English education and is the chief manager of 
 the China Merchants Steamship Company, owning about thirty- 
 five foreign built steamers, about half of which were original- 
 ly American, sent out from the United States, and now run- 
 ning on the Yangstze and Peibo rivers and coast of China, 
 both north and south, with headquarters at Shanghae, and 
 absorbing the larger proportion of the native carrying trade. 
 During the American war I had many business transactions 
 with Tong-king-sing, and retain very favorable recollections 
 of my acquaintance and experience with him. He has lately 
 been to England and South America on business pertaining 
 to his company. Possibly he may soon visit New York. He 
 is accompanied by his Secretary, also acting as sub-manager 
 of the steamship company, Mr. George H. Butler, an Ameri- 
 can colored gentleman, formerly with Mr. Burlingame, our 
 United States Minister to Peking, and Special Commissioner 
 for the Chinese Embassy sent to this country and Europe 
 many years since. Mr. Butler’s services have been of great 
 value to the steamship company, by which he is still held in 
 very high esteem. 
 
VISITS IN JAPAN AND CHINA. 
 
 45 
 
 I had the pleasure of seeing Li-hung-chang on two different 
 occasions upon that 30th day of May. He is a man of large 
 stature and commanding presence, decidedly above the ordi- 
 nary height of Chinamen, standing fully six feet three inches, 
 with a heavy black mustache, and serious cast of countenance. 
 Following him came his favorite adopted son (a son of his 
 brother), a young man of twenty-six or twenty-seven years 
 of age, having an excellent English education, whom Judge 
 Denny says gives great promise of becoming a second Li, 
 and a most valuable official of the Chinese Empire. Con- 
 sidering that Li is now about sixty years of age, we will 
 within the near future probably see this son coming to the 
 front, to take up the responsible duties so ably and honorably 
 conducted by his father. Our present Consul-General in 
 Shanghae, formerly Consul in Tientsin, Judge O. D. Denny, is 
 a warm personal friend of Li-hung-chang, and I know that 
 on more than one occasion, where matters of state have given 
 Li great anxiety and perplexity, he has sought special relief 
 in the kindly and disinterested counsels of his friend Judge 
 Denny. 
 
 Had I time I would be glad to refer to my visits in Japan ; 
 to Yokohama, Tokio, Hiogo, Kioto, Osaca and Nagasaki. 
 At Osaca we find the Imperial Japanese mint, purchased on 
 very favorable terms from the British Government in Hong- 
 Kong. It is now in full operation, issuing Japanese gold and 
 silver coins of very pretty native design, specimens of which, 
 and of the paper or yen currency, I took with me. Here in 
 Osaca I went through the famous old stone fortress of the 
 Daimaios, built in the thirteenth century of massive granite 
 blocks, many being of most extraordinary size. The old well, 
 which six hundred years ago supplied the beleagured garrison 
 with pure cool water, was in a most excellent state of preser- 
 vation. From a bucket lowered to a depth said to be one 
 hundred and fifty feet, I sipped a most refreshing draught. ? 
 
 At Kioto I spent an interesting day in the old Shintoo and 
 Buddhist temples and in riding through this extensive and 
 fine old city, fully five miles in diameter. I was particularly 
 pleased at what 1 saw in the Kioto native Exposition, com- 
 
46 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 prising a series of buildings of various shapes and pretty 
 designs, and containing a most beautiful collection of the 
 various manufactures and products peculiar to Japan. This 
 grand fair was held in the extensive palace grounds of the 
 Mikado, formerly the residence and seat of government of the 
 Tycoons, in the old feudal days of the Daimaio s and Ronins. 
 
 My visit to Kioto, 60 miles from Hiogo, was in company 
 with two agreeable companions, Mr. John Fryer, of Shang- 
 hae, and Miss Mary E. Lee, daughter of the late Gen. Robt. 
 E. Lee, a young lady making a tour around the world, quite 
 alone. 
 
 Of Peking, Tientsin, Shanghae, Hongkong and Canton, I 
 shall not be able to make any special mention, and I can but 
 allude briefly to my day’s visit to Tokio, the capital of Japan, 
 with its one, or one and a-quarter million of inhabitants ; it 
 being really indirectly associated with my subject, Tokio 
 being the residence of the Mikado, (or Emperor, as he is also 
 called), Empress, and Royal family. The foreign legations 
 are also all located here. 
 
 I had intended to be present at the grand reception given 
 by the Emperor and Empress to General and Mrs. Foote, on 
 the 25th day of April last, a magnificent entertainment, such 
 as the Mikado had not before given to any foreign official, ex- 
 cepting Gen. Grant. Unfortunately, the time of my depart- 
 ure for Shanghae came upon the same day, leaving me too 
 short a time to risk the trip from Yokohama to Tokio and 
 back. It certainly was a cause of great regret to me. The 
 Mikado I had before seen in Nagasaki, when making his first 
 appearance before the public in July, 1872. 
 
 Jealousy of China, and a natural desire to secure the very 
 earliest good favor of both our Minister (the first to make a 
 treaty with Korea), and of the King of Korea himself, in ad- 
 vance of China, were, no doubt, the motives which lead the 
 Mikado to bestow such special honors upon Gen. Foote. On 
 a previous occasion, both General and Mrs. Foote were 
 entertained at a lunch party, where, as I was informed by 
 Mrs. Foote, not only was the Empress present, but a number 
 of ladies of high Imperial rank — a privilege greatly in contrast 
 with the customs prevailing for centuries down to 1868. 
 
CALL UPON SIR HARRY PARKER IN TOKIO. 
 
 47 
 
 One day, however, I did devote in Tokio to calls, first upon 
 the United States Minister, Mr. Bingham, who unfortunately 
 was absent at Yokohama. The new buildings, both residences 
 and offices of the United States Legation, are very neat , and 
 really quite imposing, considering that the American and not 
 the British Ensign floats at the mast head in the legation com- 
 pound. The trip from Yokohama, twenty-two miles by rail, 
 in very comfortable English carriages, occupied about three- 
 quarters of an hour. Arriving at the railway station in Tokio, 
 I found the distance .to the American and British legations 
 across the city very great, but by native Jin-rick-shas, or small 
 two-wheeled carriages, or Pullman cars, as they are facetiously 
 called, with two native bettos, or runners, harnessed tandem, 
 the four or five miles were very soon made. 
 
 I had a most delightful call upon an old acquaintance, Sir 
 Harry Parkes, the British Minister Plenipotentiary in Japan, 
 who in i860 I knew as British Consul in Shanghae, and after- 
 wards as Private Secretary to Lord Elgin’s Embassy during 
 the Peiho war, in i860 and 1861. 
 
 The grounds and buildings of the British Legation are both 
 extensive and imposing ; in full keeping with England’s uni- 
 versal tradition and liberal expenditures in maintaining her 
 position and dignity among the Oriental nations. Here I met 
 both Sir Harry Parkes and his accomplished daughter, who 
 does the honors of Sir Harry’s household, and with whom I 
 took the usual complimentary and friendly cup of afternoon tea. 
 Lady Parkes died about two years since. Sir Harry expressed 
 himself freely upon matters pertaining to Japan and Korea, 
 and his long residence in the former country, recounting his 
 visit to Peking with Lord Elgin, when he was captured by 
 Chinese soldiers, thrown into a loathsome prison in Peking, 
 crowded with the very worst kinds of criminals, and subse- 
 quently rescued by a friendly Mandarin, who formerly knew 
 Sir Harry, he being able to speak the Mandarin dialect fluent- 
 ly. At night he was lowered over the high city walls by a 
 rope, escaping into the British camp before the city gate. 
 
 Now, by special appointment of Queen Victoria, Sir Harry 
 Parkes is to be sent to Peking as England’s Minister Plenipo- 
 
48 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 tentiary. This, I said to him, could but be a most, gratify- 
 ing vindication and partial recompense for the sufferings he had 
 undergone at the hands of the Chinese Mandarins, in i860, 
 nearly dying from their barbarous treatment ; but now he 
 returns to these former scenes as England's Minister Plenipo- 
 tentiary, and by the successors to those Mandarins, is received 
 and saluted with high honors. In his quiet and unassuming 
 way, Sir Harry gave his approval to my remarks, adding that 
 twenty-three years having elapsed since those scenes, and the 
 former actors in the drama having passed off the stage, the 
 remembrance of the details had grown dim and the hostile 
 feelings toward him had no doubt passed away. 
 
 Well do I remember in Shanghae, in 1861, the circum- 
 stances connected with this horrible affair; the capture at the 
 same time with Sir Harry Parkes of poor Bowlby and Ander- 
 son, the former the China correspondent of the London Times 
 with the English army before Peking, who was dragged by 
 the feet, at the end of a native cart through the streets of 
 Peking, dying under this horrible treatment. Anderson was 
 imprisoned and died. Both were buried in the British Con- 
 sular Compound in Shanghae. Sir Harry Parkes had no right 
 to expect other than a similar fate, which would undoubtedly 
 have been meted out to him, but for the friendly interference 
 of the Mandarin, before mentioned. Not only England, 
 America, and Korea, but the world generally is exceedingly 
 fortunate in having this experienced, genial, though firm, and 
 successful English diplomatist in Oriental affairsin this impor- 
 tant position in China, at a time when the influences, (other 
 than those emanating from Li-hung-chang,) of the Mandarins, 
 and officials are generally believed to be inimical to foreigners. 
 I conversed with Sir Harry Parkes fully a half-hour, concerning 
 Korea, finding as I had expected, that he takes a very warm 
 interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of this newly 
 opened country. He does not look with favor upon certain 
 portions of our new American treaty, notably, the increase in 
 the tariff rates conceded to Korea, which concessions are by 
 Englishmen considered to be opposed to England’s free trade 
 interests. The absence of a clause permitting Protestant 
 
THE KOREAN EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES. 49 
 
 missionaries free intercourse and guaranteeing their protection, 
 is also disapproved by the British Minister. The Japanese 
 whilst missing their old friend and minister, as they surely 
 will, may, in the event of any dispute with China arising, con- 
 gratulate themselves in having a true and impartial mediator 
 at the court of Peking in this experienced diplomatist. In 
 fact the entire community, both foreign and native in Japan, 
 are in thorough accord in their appreciation of Sir Harry 
 Parkes. 
 
 I feel that I cannot make a more fitting close of this lengthy 
 discourse than by devoting a short space of time to our recent 
 guests, the Korean Embassy. Early in July last we learned 
 for the first time that the King of Tah-Chosun had decided, 
 on the strong recommendation of Minister Foote, to send one 
 of his high officers, Prince Min-yong-ik, a nephew of the King 
 and brother-in-law of the Heir Apparent, as Envoy Extra- 
 ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, together with Mr. 
 Hong-yeng-shik, son of the Prime Minister, as Vice-Minister, 
 accompanied by a suite of seven other native officials and in- 
 terpreters, as a special Embassy to Washington. Its purpose 
 was to personally present to President Arthur the congratula- 
 tions and good wishes of the King of Tah-Chosun upon the in- 
 terchange of treaty ratifications between the King and United 
 States Minister Foote at Seoul, on the 19th of May, 1883. I 
 had already received a warm letter of introduction from Gen- 
 eral Foote, asking a cordial welcome for the Embassy, under 
 date of Seoul, the 13th of July. The Embassy arrived at Wash- 
 ington on the 14th of September, leaving at once for New 
 York, owing to the absence of the President and his Cabinet 
 officers. On the 1 8th of September, their Excellencies Min and 
 Hong were received by the President, Secretary of State Fre- 
 linghuysen, and Messrs. Davis and Chew, also of the State 
 Department, in the parlors of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where 
 the credentials of the Ambassadors and the address on the 
 part of the King were presented in person to the President. A 
 suitable and most cordial welcome in response was accorded 
 thereto, all present seeming to be well pleased with this final 
 
5 © 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 interchange of official courtesies. The Embassy at once visited 
 Boston, upon the invitation of the managers of the World’s 
 Exposition, then being held in that city, spending several 
 days in sight-seeing and receiving attentions from the Gov- 
 ernor of the State and city authorities, returning to New 
 York on the 23d of September. In connexion with Commo- 
 dore Upshur, of the Brooklyn Navv Yard, and acting under 
 the recommendations of General Foote's letter, from that 
 time to the date of their departure, on the 1st of December, 
 
 I took much interest in their welfare, and was able I trust to 
 be of some little service to his Excellency while here. 
 
 On the 26th of September a committee of down-town New 
 York merchants escorted the Embassy to various places of 
 public and private interest, ending with an entertainment in 
 the evening. On other days they made visits in and out of 
 the city under the auspices of Commodore Upshur. On the 
 14th of November His Excellency, secretary, attache, and 
 Ensign Foulk accepted my invitation, on behalf of President 
 Hebard and Mr. John D. Cutter, to visit the United States 
 Ele6lric Light Co. and Cutter’s silk factory, in Newark, finish- 
 ing the day with a brief visit to Orange, making a social call 
 in our New England rooms in Music Hall, and in the evening 
 attending a reception held at my house in honor of the 
 Prince, thus giving him and his suite an opportunity of ex- 
 periencing a little of our own social life. 
 
 H. E. Prince Min is a son of Min-ho, the King’s Minister . 
 of the Left. He holds the office of President of the Agricul- 
 tural Department of the government and it is his intention on 
 his return to establish a large public park in Seoul. 
 
 An exposition or museum is about to be opened at the 
 Capital, and from a notification issued through the State De- 
 partment by Commissioner of Customs Von Mullendorff, our 
 merchants are invited to send exhibits to the exposition, 
 which will be taken charge of at Shanghae, forwarded to their 
 destination at the expense of the Chosunese government, and 
 there placed in position. It is hoped, as soon as this informa- 
 tion becomes generally known, that full advantage will be 
 
DEPARTURE OF II. E. MIN-YONG-IK. 
 
 51 
 
 taken of the opportunity by our enterprising merchants, who 
 possess many varieties of manufactures of cottons and woollens, 
 agricultural implements, hardware, watches, clocks, petroleum 
 and such goods as the Koreans will certainly require from this 
 country. H. E. has purchased many different implements with 
 the latest improvements, for farming purposes, and these are 
 now being shipped out to China and Korea in readiness for 
 the opening of the agricultural grounds of the government in 
 April next. 
 
 The Minister and his suite left New York on the first of 
 December in the United States steamer "Trenton,” for Gibral- 
 ter and Marseilles, from whence a short trip will be taken to 
 Paris and London. From Marseilles, via the Suez Canal, the 
 Indian ocean, the Straits of Malacca, and the China sea, the 
 “Trenton” will deliver her guests, probably early in April 
 next, at the seaport of Ren-shan, near Seoul. The minister 
 on the day of his departure expressed himself as highly 
 pleased with his experience of two months and a-half in this 
 country. 
 
 One by one the Oriental countries have opened their doors 
 to the western world, and now another, the Hermit Nation, 
 with its thirteen millions of people, obeying the summons of 
 the age, issues from its seclusion to live a neighborly life with 
 the nations roundabout, in the hopes of giving and receiving 
 the benefits of social and mercantile intercourse. Henceforth 
 Korea proposes to be known among men. The ship that sails 
 around the world will not pass her by as heretofore, but enter 
 her harbors and discharge the products of other lands. The 
 eleftric spark which has flashed for others will soon work for 
 her as well, and chronicle the passing phases of life in New 
 York, London, Paris and the world at large. Her students 
 will stay with us long enough to learn our thoughts and ideas, 
 only to disseminate them over their own land when they 
 return home. Our merchants will meet her merchants, and 
 commerce follow to the benefit of both. Let us then hope 
 that the return of the Embassy to its own Tali Chosun, carry- 
 
52 
 
 KOREA. 
 
 ing into its official and home life the ideas and suggestions 
 gained among us, will hasten this desired end, and that Korea, 
 the last of the Oriental countries seeking admission into the 
 family of nations, urged forward under the stimulus and guid- 
 ance of our western religion and civilization, will receive and 
 retain for all time the same benefits which have been gained 
 and made profitable use of by the Occidental World. 
 
DATE DUE 
 
 OCT 1 2 ' 
 
 70 
 
 
 
 DEC 1 8 * 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 JULl " 
 
 '5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN J.S.A.