The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-22
Curions Community in an Out of the Way
Corner OF the Orient.

Curions Community in an Out-of-the- Way
Corner OF the Orient.
From the London Times.
One Of the leading secretaries of the
Japanese Mission which visited Corea
early in this year to negotiate the
treaty between the two countries gave
On his return an account of the con-
ditiOn OF COrea, SO far far as he could
observe it on it's southwestern coast.
and in the neighborhood of Kok wa !;
and his statement, transmitted by Sir II :.
Parkes, is included among papers re-
Gently presented to Parliament. The
secretary says that the houses Of the
common people are little better than
dog-kennels. Though. Kok wa is q fine
place, the houses are six or seven feet
high. Houses in COreaare warmed by
means Of q horizontal passage EXTEND
ing under the whole length of the
floor; q fire is lit at one end. and the
smoke goes out at the other. Dried
fish and persin,mons, tobacco, and
straw sandals are apparently the chief
objects OF trade.
The government houses are built of
brick, and recognizable at a glance.
In respect of conveniences they are
very deficient and for like rea.
sons the public roads are filthy. The
city walls are about five miles long,
only from two to three feet high,
partly Of mud and stone and partly of
brick; the gates have fallen out of
repair. The cOreans dress in garments
undyed and unornamented, and which
once were white ; a long sleeve is the
badge Of higher rank. The head-dress
is large round hat fastened by strings
passing under the chin, and said to be
made of horse hair. Custom exacts
that the hat be placed on the head
when greeting a friend. The hair is
worn long, and fastened with pins in.
to a bunch at the top of the head.
The women are said to be dressed
something like Europeans, but the
Japanese did not see one : the women
are excluded from the public gaze, and
1t is said that even among the COreans
themselves visitors are not permitted
to see the wife. The writer of this
account thinks it probable that there
may be much mineral wealth in Corea,
but he says that only the iron mines
are worked. Copper, gold, and silver,
it such metals exist, are yet ujl-
touched. This, he thinks, may have
arisen from a notion that their discoy-
cry would be prejudicial to the nation.
He believes the soil to be poor. There
appear to be no old trees, the demand
for fuel being such that they are not
allowed to grow to maturity. The cat
tie and pigs are very fat, and the hides
of the former are among the exports
Of the country. The horses are very
small. and only about a third Of the
size OF the Arab horse.
ME chief drink of the people is All
infusion Of dried ginseng or ginger
and dried orange peel. Coma (sesa-
mum OF ientalis) Of excellent quality
grows in the country, and it's oil is
largely used in cooking, and also for
lamp fuel, The Secretary says: 1.-The
COreans eat more meat and fat stuff
than we do, but not much fish; the
beet and pork are excellent. When
the treaty was signed we were enter
tanned witha repast. at which music
was performed. There was Il sort of
confectionery made Of shugar. flour.
and Oil, cut into small square pieces a
great lcdp " OOlieutS SSs,, Il pudding
of flour, COMA, and honey: dried per-
simmons pine seeds; honey-like food
covered with roasted rice, painted
red and white; macaroni soup with
fowl boiled legs-of pork; and with
everything wine Of about the potency
of Japanese sake Of inferior duality
but the wine usually drank by the
Coreans is a strong spirit. The dishes
were of earthenware the table was
square, rudely made, and painted with
persimmon juice. Oiled paper was