New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-28

European dandles. and when contribute ~ 80
to lend q characteristic impression TO their lea-
lures.
In spite Of their DEFICIENCIES on the score OF re-
igon and fashion. the COreans, as the woild goes
are not a bad people They are remarkable LOT the
openness and frankncss of their demeanor Even
the lower classes grave and sedate III dlspoSi-
ton, bu on a nearer acquaintance are 1oahu ~
possess a quiet gavety and are not entirely without
a love of fun They are honest, faithful and good
natured and attach themselves with almost chl'd-
like confidence even TO strangers, when they ohco
begin TO trust in thor sincerity They walk Win
bold and easy step, and in stature and strength are
superior both to the Chinese ana japanese III
p,int of good manners, however. they have not
much to boast. They have none OF the PIacelu'
pollsb which is found even among the lower
classes of China and Japan. Polggamv rs an eSiap-
lshed Institution IN Corea. The number OF wives
varies with the wealth and standing OF the hus-
hand As the middle and lower classes are
not generally well n, il is not usual III their
case TO have more than one wife at a
fine Marriage ceremonies unknown. As
soon as a certain sun has been agreed upon
with the relatives of the bride eject, the husband
takes hel to his house and treats her rs part OF
his goods and cbattels The dweiling-houSeS ID inc
towns are mostly of one story, constructed "i mul,
and covered with the same material, or matched
with straw. In the larger cities there are many
bindings of wood or brick, and rooted with tIes'
The housesin the country rarely contain more IMAM
two or three rooms without doors, and Wild VIII
dows Of oil-papcr glass beng completely unkh'"h'
The interior corresponds Wi,h t1c on ward appear
ance The household of tie common people seldom
counr,ses ANYTHING but the necessary eating and
drinking utensils. Cha rs tables and otter pieces
of furniture arc met WITH only III The houses Of the
INV decoration
rather than use. The floor is covcrel with straw
mats. bat NOS 50 beautiful as those in Japan. lie
Core2n sits cross-lceced on the ground, and has no
need Of chairs Tables are also unknowi. ana
low kind OF framework is usod III then pace
nj meals They have no bcdSeais, but either sleep
on tic bare ground or on common mattress;
The Corcaus are very plain and temperate 'n the;r
stVc OF living; they are moderate IN t'''Ic|' ~
Though thew are by no means disoain'u al Hp'd
thinps When they have IN opportunity 10 fipoy
tbcm The maih article OF nonriSlineht IS Ilc'
boiled in the same way rs II is al! over me last;
with additional dishes of Vccci bie>. iNO, i"" ~ an"
pork beef Is rarely consumed Hot lp!l I,'i-'oD'
motives us IN Japan, but on account "l ita cHI'
Sheep are altogether unknown IN Coiea, ana mere
are bui few goats kept. The VianG~ ar prepared III
much the same way as in China, though nor per
hans so well cooScd BncKWhent, mHet, maze
and the hike, form a good pat Of the n"IishineHt:
the latter Is crushed and made into "a kihf a. cry
bread OF public cOoR-shops, vendors OF cake or
svertucafs slch as are met with DO the poorest
Chinese village, ] nave seen uotllilE h'lN. i"'
CHINA and cartheuwaIc used at meals Is very com
mon. Regis account that plates are used - ncor-
rect They do not, however eat with chopSticKS'
bnt with wooden or eaTthCnWlre Spoons WIN very
lone shafts and with two-prongel forks and knives,
which they handle very well and Their way ~ eat
ing Is decidedly pre- cradle to, and not 20 Disgusting
to look AZ as the Chinese custom, Of putting the
rice-bowl close TO the mouth and showing ll' con
tents INTO the same with rapdlty really aston
ishing.
The Corcan wine is generally. made from Mlllet'
H. - f,,.i-t- 1I.uUIppulp
the Chinese sakI very much. Like the japanese,
they are extremely fond OF strong drinks ana mnch
less moderate III drinking than IN edtlng; tAey may
even be called very lmmOdrrate whenever tuei
have an opportunity to satisfy their craving I1f
LIQUORS, as | often had occasion TO observe. 10
foreign W mes and spirits they are pas,lonalely au-
6icfed champagne and cheIry-braudy they pre-
fer TO any other liquors, but they dIsdain Dy no
means sherry. brandy, and other strong vines ana
sDirlts claret alone they don't much relish on ac-
count OF its acerbty. If we coud OF would nave
given TO all those who came to visit MS what they
desired we should have had hundreds OF tlpsy
natives about us every day. Some al theh "cTo
ahle To consume astonishing quantities, al houGI
thev had never before tasted any foreign liquors
As an instance | remember tha' an ohcl'i ara MS
three SCI rctarics finished four bottles of champagne
and os many of cherrV-braudy within hall an hour,
in consequence of whichthey became 50 elated ana
loquaclous that they spoke IN terms SO strong OF
their Government and of the atrocities committed
by the regent, as they would haldlJ nave ddred to
use If they had been quite sober ne COfeahs drink
very lit tea do they seem much 30 care iur H.
tboIph the better classes II at times. 1t X
owing TO this that the cultivation o the lea shlupls
so very much neglected III the country but IL grows
wild III many parts and could easily he maze 10
give n very far crop, both rs to quality and guam
tty on account Of climate and ground iavorlng Its
growth.
Snlcndid springs of the purest water are every
where found and the COTeans do not perhaps ice
the want of tea so much, as they are great water
drinkers.
The climate of Corea is delightful, more like that
of Southern Europe than of ASIA. An oppressive
heat is rarely felt. Spring and Autumn are magnill-
cont and almost entirely without rain. The veg
citation Of the country is wonderfully rich Besides
many species of flowers peculiar TO the soil, all Eu-
ronean flowers grow wild The natives take no
Measure in their cultivation and a flower garden IS
hardly ever seem The valleys, as well rs the hills
aud mountain slopes, arc covered with al abundant
variety of plants and woods, many of which are
highly valusd by the natives for their medic
properties:
The vast mountain chains and hill-ranges covered
by extensive woods give shelter TO gleaI number
Of wild beasts and other animals. Foremost
amongst these arc several species OF The tiger, Which
is ind pepOus 10 the country, and TO whose rtpicly
n Great many human lives arc annually 5acrlhccd
the royal tiger is met with even III Inc northern
nroviuccs To Judge from the size Of some OF the
SKINS seem the latter must belong to the 'rgcst and
finest specimens OF its kind there are pant hcIs'
eopards bears, wild hogs, stays. deer etc.; oil the
latter q very pretty kind exists without horns, ana
having tusks each side OF the lower Jaw, Whlca
serve as well az n weapon Of defence as for pecllng
of The bark which it requires for food ~ Winter
| time Further on are 10 be noted foxes, wcascis,
martins otters badgers. sables, and great Gnanil-
! ties of gray squirrel III the north, which Is much
hunted I'd priced for It's skin; haIcs, the common
European squirrel striped species of the same aud
| the black OF flying kind. Besides these and other
animals known, there exists, however, several
species as yet perfectly unknown, such as the six
| niang and the tampi. The natives talk also OF a
very rare and almost fabulous animal, which Is only
found IN the deepest thcict of the woods. which is
reported as a mixture Of horse and stag, with single
| horn to It's 'front.' and which said 10 be SO eXccs-
sivcly shy and difficult to DO caught that not u
single specimen has been captured for ages past.
Curious enough IT IS that the wolf, common iii the
! Chinese ploeince of Leau-tong and in Mongolia,
docs rot only not exist but Is altogether unknown
Wy. 1,nl rl.r nnssihlN be fnmnl In the