Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-09

| cattle, iowls, horses ana pigs, ana dlHel
but slightly from those of Japan. The cat
tic and pigs are very fat and the hides o
the former afe among the exports of the
country. The horses are about the size o
our colts between one and two years old
or of the ass of China, and therefore only
about one third of the size of an Arat
horse. We saw no kites or crows in Kok-
wa. But we saw birds OF the size of pig
cons of dark blue color with white
breasts, sharp bills and long tail feathers
possibly kind Of jay. They build in the
| willows near human dwellings ard were
called by our people Corean crows. The
number OF sparrows appears less than
| in Japan. Wood is very scarce in all parts
of the country which we visited. We saw
only pines no cedar, oak, plum or cherry
trees, excepting those in the compound OF
the Japanese Agency, at Fusan. But the
Coreans said that such trees were 10 be
found in other parts of the country. Or
ange trees seem very scarce in Corea, and
their fruit is purchased from our people at
Tsushima. Tea does not seem to grow in
the country, nor do the Coreans appear to
| be acquainted with the taste of ii. The
chief drink is an infusion of dried ginseng,
or ginger and dried orange peel. When
| ginger cannot be obtained-it does not
| grow in Corea-honey is used instead. The
tobacco which we saw exposed for sale was
Of a very dark color. Corea produces rice
of much the same quality as that grown in
Japan. The people are very proud of its
| excellence, and aver that IL IL eaten by the
Emperor of China.
| Corea probably possesses mines. The
hills are bare of grass and trees and the
soil is very dry, so that it is thought there
may be much mineral wealth. But the
iron mines are the only ones worked; cop
per, gold and silver, if such metals exist,
are yet untouched. 1t is possible that this
has arisen from foolish notion that their
discovery would he prejudicial 10 the ma
tion, and disturb the feng Shuey-a super
| stition which prevails in Corea. For this
reason no gold coins or ornaments are to
be seen silver is used for hair pins, but
only in small quantities, and this comes
from China. The copper and tin used IN
the country come from Japan, and the for
mer is to be found in the coins. The Cor
cans use copper for many purposes for
which we employ earthenware or porce-
lain. The coins are of two sizes, aud are
called generically Iohei Tsltho. One is
larger than the other, but both pass as of
the same value.
1t is said that there are coal mines in the
country, but, strange to say, dear as fuel IS,
the Coreans do not seem 10 know the value
of coal for this purpose.
There is little worthy OF record here in
respect of the Corean military forces,
though will say few words about them.
Some fifteen or sixteen hundred men came
down 10 Kokwa when we were there. They
wore wooden hats and coats of reddish
armor nor helmets. They we're armed
with match-locks of small size like those
used by our japanese hunters, and with
swords, the blades Of which, in all proba-
bility, are imported from Japan. The
number of banners is large in proportion
to the number of men, aud some had char
acters upon them, the top Of the color-poles
being ornamented with pheasanrs feathers.
The men appeared 10 be of all ages some
"SAO yOhhEt phb hhdu1 hClC HulkG Olus
They appear better drilled than our troops
were prior to the arrival of Commodore
Perry, as at that time each Daimio had his
men drilled as he chose, while the Coreans
had one central government and ono army.
Their dress seems well enough for fine
weather, but bad for rain. 1t is said that
they have only adopted the use of the
sword recently in obedience TO the COM
mand OF the reigning monarch.
The various fOrtresses are mounted with
cannon. The guns round the city throw
four or five pound shot. None of them
were on carriages, but are merely placed
on stones. They are fired with tow ropes,
and place is provided for the safety of the
man who acts as gunner. The position of
the guns was such as 10 lead us TO infer
that several mon would be required TO
manage each one of them. The forts are
usually on the sides of hills, and are loop
hoed for three or four guns.
Buddhism prevails, but The priests do
not appear 10 possess as much power as in
japan. 1t is said that there is large
Buddhist temple called Bongioji at Torai
to the north of Fusan, but there are none at
Kokwa. The priests dress in the same
way as our own, and attend the death beds
of the people, but have nothing to do with
their burial, as in Japan. The reason APP
pears TO be that the superstition of FHn9
iShuey prevails, and bodies are inferred in
the paddy fields, in gardens, woods or on
the hills, or wherever the inclination OF the
family may dictate, so that there are no
regular burying places. 1t is said that
stone monuments are erected to men of
distin ction, but under ordinary circum-
stances a heap of earth is thrown up over
the grave, and when this has disappeared
it does in thirty or forty years, the soil is
again brought under cultivation.
The Coreans eat more meat aud fat stuff
than we do. The beef and pork are excel
lent. The oil of gonna and garlic are great
ly used in cooking and are even mixed
with rice. The Coreaus seem to eat but
little fish, as we saw no tishmongers' shops,
and when we were entertained by the Off
cials there was not single dish of fish
served. At Kokwa We occasionally saw in
the shops a small quantity Of lsh looking
ike herrings, but this was all we met with.
We could not discover whether fish are
scarce on account of Kokwa being near the
mouth of the muddy Yellow River, or
whether the Coreans do not like it.
When the treaty was signed we were en-
tertained with repast at which music was
performed, and will give a brief descrlp-
tion of the dishes served. There was a sort
of fconfeetionary made of sugar, flour and
oil, cut into squares about two inches each