The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-02-22
A Glimpse of the Korea.

NIT of the ridge of Sodo, the westernmost
island of the two, peered out from amid
fields and hedgcrows, the scattered roofs
Of a small hamlet. Elsewhere the pop
ulation Is gathered into four largo villages
Or towns-two on the western and two on
the eastern island. The chief town lies
toward the north on the western shore of
the bay where tho island dips to long
promontory crowned at tho point with
such headland as Miscnum. Across
the dip between the central ridge and
this elevated headand lie the blue noun.
tains OF the distant main. Beyond the
cape and between it and the western
shore runs narrow strait, shallow, and
with sunkeD rocks which make the little
sound between the islands almost land
locked. The town is compactly built
hip roofs Of poles and mats, with sloping
ends, lie close together. In the distance
they called to mind the likeness of n
testudo of besiegiug shields. The town
abuts upon the stony beach Each house
and its dependent buildings are surround.
ed by rude stone wall. Above tho
coping shoot branches Of green shrubs,
and here and there stems of the universal
millet. Between the house walls run
rudelY paved lands as steep and stony az
at Brixham or Clovelly. A few boats
wero hauled upon the beach, and a coast.
ing craft Of some thirty tons rode at
anchor hard by. The town itself con.
tains close on two hundred and fifty
houses, and possibly a thousand souls.
On the other island, also on the beach,
but where the water makes almost an il.
let in the shore, arc two other towns.
Both seemed large-ps largo at least as
the one just noticed on Sodo. In fror.
OF the southernmost lay many junks ut
anchor. From both-but not from q
single house Of either town on the other
island-wreaths of blue smoke rose. The
more northern climbs somewhat high
up the hill, aud yet higher throws out a
scanty suburb. The fourth town wss
passed and soon hidden behind jutting
headland; it is perhaps the smallest cf
the four. In front of each stands q
stately tree beneath its shade, on a
platform rudely faced with loose stones,
the elders and the commons of the little
communities assemble. At first, as we
entered the bay, scarce soul was stir.
ring. A few men and boys were seen
moving about in front Of some of the
houses, or perhaps along a lane between
the hedgerows. But as the morning ad-
vauced, many peeped out from their
doors, till before long crowd was gath.
cred before each little town to look at the
ship moving slowly up the bay. The
anchor was cast opposite the town first
mentioned, Within a short time Of
anchoring boat put of from the ship for
the shore, to make somo inquiries of the
head man or governor of tho island. The
emissary was received at the water
edge and courteously conducted to the
great tree, the shade cast by which was
supplemented by that OF canvas awning
spread for the purpose. The officer was
received by the chief men of the place,
each distinguished-beside the stature
and bearing Of higher CLASSIFY an o..
fetal head dress This head gear il
black, made Of some light fbrous sub
stance, as finely woven as borso hair
seive, and in shape much resembling that
Of the peasant women of South Wales,
the heroincs OF Fishguard Tho cavity
to receive the head is cup shaped ard
beneath the brim, The common robe of
all is white, long and flowing like tho
Japanese kimono, and girt in at the waist.
Loose broad trowsers of the same are tied
in below the knee; white socks or bus
kins. and pointed, turned up shoes com.
plete the costume. The hair is long, and
is gathered up into small knot upon the
crown. The children wear it in a long,
plated tail behind; perhaps a remnant
of the Manchu tyranny which tried and
failed in the attempt to put upon the Ko.
reans the same head mark as that sub.
mltted 10 by tue mo,c piiablo Ohinoee.
In the littlo embassy from the ship there
was no one who could speak the Korean
tongue. Communication was held by the
aid Of Chinese servant. who wrote tho
few questions asked in the characters Of
his language. Question and answer
we're written upon paper, aud readily 10.
terpreted by both Korean and Chinese.
though neither could speak one word Of
the others tongue. The head men wou i
not allow The baser Sort of whom a sms |
crowd had already collected, to approach
near. Those who did we're waved back
aud When signs aud orders failed WEI o
beaten backward with bam6oos. The
village senate--for such seemed the grcu o
of elders who surrounded the venerable 9
head man-were unarmed. and no me,i.
ber bore even q staff of Office. The not
important information asked for beiug
courteously impaired, the boat returned
Gu board. Soon as the bell struck eight
the oolors we're hoisted in accordance
with ancient naval custom. and the bar i
played "God save the Queen !" The
notes Of the music foated across the bs .,
and the crowds Of gazers at the differen
villages quickly increased An hour
afterward boat again pulled in toward
the beach, this time carrying a good y
load Of visitors On landing as before,
two grave inhabitants, adorned with the
official head dress, met the visitors and
conducted them TO the meeting place be.
meath the tree. The senate was assem-
bled to receive them. Again the general
public was kept at a respectful distance,
aud by the same arguments as before.
The aged head man was courteous and
hospitable withal. An attendant brought
forth some native liquor, which ~
poured into a broad mouthed, shallow
cup of metal first tasted by the venerab e
host--such is the Korean mode-ard
then handed to the visitors. The lquor
whitish in color and sour 10 taste, is
possibly akin to the kopmis of the Tartar
tribes. The visit of strangers was svi.
pently not much liked. Still the elders
showed certain grave courtesy, and Q
somewhat pleasing and even well bred