The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-17
SKETCH OF COREA.

There are few places In Eastern waters more fire.
quently mentioned than Corea. and 1t may be truly
said that there are few places in the waters
little known to the American public. This igno-
rance OF a country which has become famous for
the partality its Inhabitants display for robust and
irregular maritime taxation Is due mainly to the
rigid exclusion OF foreigners save as slaves, who
can get little or no information Of the country.
Corea is a large peninsula In Northeastern Asia,
bounded on the east by the Sea OF Japan. on the
south by the Strait OF Corea and on the west by the
Yellow Sea and the Gulf Of Leao Fong. IL is called
Teyosien by the Chinese. to whom 1t is tributary.
Kao-be and by the Japanese KOari from which 1t
derives the name OF Corea. The length of the Pc
ninsula Is about 600 miles, and the width less than
40, and comprise about $4,000 square miles. The
capital Kingktas, Is situated In the centre Of the
peninsula. on the banks OF the river Kiang. The
entire length OF the country is traversed by noun.
tam range which forms gentle slope on the west
and rises abruptly and precipitately on the west
The coast ts about as treacherous as the Coreans
themselves, being for the most part SO
rocky as TO be practically inaccessible, al
though there are lew good barbors. The
climate OF Corea Is very cold IN winter, while in
summer rain falls SO abundantly that the great
variety OF fruits which grow on the peninsula
yearly became so soaked that their flavor Is rem
dered insipid. But, Notwithstanding the usual
severity OF the seasons the soil OF COrea Is rich and
productive and barley, wheat, cotton, rice, miet,
&C., are grown extensively and in great quantities.
Fruit trees also flourish with tropical uxuriance
The mineral wealth OF the cOunuay has scarcely been
attended to, although gold silver, "copper" ron coal,
&C., are found there. The domestic animals are
oxen, pigs, goats, dogs and cats, and small
OF horses called mon-k-neat famous for their
strength and spirit 1t is said that there is royal
INST thn rtn nf N
quently that animal is almost unknown to the
Coaars The royal tiger and the panther are
monarchs Of the wild bevsts In the peninsula
and so hume are they that the traffic in their
skins form an important branch in their commerce
with foreign nations. The manufactures comprise
cloths, silk, pottery and arms the latter being the
best made. The Corean sabres and daggers are
much sought for oy the Chinese because OF the ex-
quiste manner IN which they are made The foreign
commerce is trinng, and IS confined mainly to China
and Japan
Corea is almost an Independent kingdom, and is
governed by Eing who pays tribute the Uncle OF
the Moon, the Emperor of China. Its inhabitants
said be far superior to the Chinese In mental
ana physical resources. The government con-
sists OF a king. whose ministry is d.
vided into five departments Which form
the centre OF all civil and military authority.
His Majesty's power is,held sacred and inviolable
from the union in his own person or the herarchal
and secular sovereignty. He divides his
government into circles provinces, each
under the rule OF special governors, all
appointed by the King to whom they are
responsible. The revenue OF the Corean monarch
are immense and are derived mainly from the letting
out fland and 1.-THE of produce. As In China,
gion is a secondary consideration. The prevailing
belief is In Boodhism, which was introduced about
the year 372, but there appears to be another
ligon-evidenty the original faith OF the people
and the doctrns OF Corpicious are held in high es
TEEN.
The genuine Corean language is scarcely Roman,
rs IL has become hopeessly corrupted by the intro
ducti0n of numerous Chinese words, the higher
classes using the Chinese language In all cases.
About the year 1920 Corea was conquered by
the Tartars; in 1892 and 1898 by the Japan
csc, who were unable to retain 1t and 1t
fell under the sway OF China, and we
have already intimatee the people engage largely
in piracy, and numbers OF them yearly caught
while at work In their pirate junks. Their treat
ment OF all foreigners who fall into their hands is
most brutal and it was because Of their lnhumanity
that the expedition under the command OF Admiral
Rodgers was sent to Eastern waters.