The Osceola times., 1882-11-18
A FORBIDDEN LAND.
Sights Seen by the First
Visitors to Corea.
An Inquisitive and Curious Peopie-Bold-
ness of the Natives Strange SUPER
stitions Held by the Women
A State Reception.
New York Herald.

cacy sends us the following from Port
Iazareff. Corea' We are now anchored
in this far-off part in the forbidden land"
"a land until recently so closely sealed
to the rest of the ord. For several
days we steamed rapidly along the Co
rcan cost, which is green and mountain
Gus, in rain and fog. For nearly two
weeks it has steadily rained. Yesterday
we got in, and to-day several of us went
on shore to visit the villages, which are
mostly fisherman's huts. The harbor is
large, with fine islands and snug berths
all around; but for the grass huts of the
natives in the distance it would be a
perfect solitude. An excited crowd
greeted us as we stepped on shore. The
Corcan dress is white in color when new,
but soon becomes and remains dirty
looking. The hair is caught up into a
short topknot, and is covered with Curl
ous shaped hats, made of a black mosquito
netting stuff of split bamboo. The Co
rean is much darker than the japanese,
larger, wears thin beard, and has quick,
intelligent features. They walk with a
free stride, have perfectly unabashed
manners, and are regular thieves One
ofthem this morning went up to Mr.. T.,
pulled his mustache to examine it, and
then cody took toothpick out of his
hand. which hepocketed and then strobe
away.
On landing we were surrounded by a
curious crowd, who passed around us,
laughing and chattering like parcel of
monkeys. Our Chinese interpreter told
them who we were, and told them about
the treaty, of which they had not heard.
After giving them some articles we start
ed for look about, but were soon stop
ped, and especially from going near their
huts The women. who are generally
ugly, fled at our approach; so we finally
gave it up and went back to our boats,
after one savage-looking rascal having
intimated rather graphically what he
should do If we went further by drawing
his hand across his neck. We then pull
ed up to a larger village on the opposite
bank, where hundreds awaited us. Be-
fore landing we sent the interpreter out
first to explain our VISIT directly after
we were invited to land. Here we made
some presents, but in the midst of the
palaver heavy shower came on, which
caused everybody to scamper for shelter.
A lot of the dirtiest looking fellows got
under my umbrella, which was already
doing double duty, and kept their ground
despite our efforts to dislodge them
They appeared to be utterly unmannerly,
although not ill-natured. On trying to
get under the caves of large hut, which
was crowded, one Of them cody pushed
me out in the rain. So there we stood
n the drenching downpour, a lot of them
crowding under our umbrellas, and hum
dreds of them from the surrounding
huts watching our movements. Indeed,
the situation struck us so ludicrous that
we shouted with laughter. After the
rain We smoked pipe with the chief
men, who passed us over very soberly,
put our lips to some villainous stuff called
samshu, which they passed around, and
pushed through the crowd to the boat
Here, as before, they would not let Us
walk about or enter their huts. The
women also were invisible. l think
however, had it not been for the rabble
the best men would have treated us bet.
ter. Nor is il fair to take this distant
fishing village and its people as sample
of fCorea and Coreans. The Swatara
which took Commodore Shufeldt TO the
capital, Seoul was treated very well. A
curious phase is that although they show
ed the greatest interest in us they seem
ed TO look upon us as interiors.
A run OF two days to the southwark
brought us to the port of Chosan, where
the Japanese have maintained military
garrison for the past 200 years. Here
the governor, a venerable and dignifed
looking parsonage, visited the ship, hav.
ing received instructions from the king
TO do SO. He was SO pleased with all he
saw, which was entirely new TO him, that
he sent afterward bountiful present Of
pigs, chickens and eggs on board and in.
vited us to visit him at his capital the
next day. Seven of us, in full uniform
with the Japanese consul, his interpreter
q Japanese naval captain and several
other japanese officials composed the
party. Diminutive ponies, with a bette
or groom to each, were provided, and the
governors aide, with a guard of soldiers
were sent to escort us out.
The whole town was collected at the
consulate to witness our departure, which
proved to be no small undertaking. DR.
T's. pony, fiery little animal, got quite
unnsnageable, and, after curveting on
his hind legs for some time, to the edif.
cation of the bystanden, who by this
time had formed compact mass on each
side of the way, managed TO throw its
rider. The doctor pluckily mounted him
again and Immediately took the lead
which he maintained the whole way, the
pony plunging along broadside on 10 the
great CONSERVATION of the guard. Our
way passed through succession of Co
rean villages and along the hills that
border the shores of this lovely bay. The
day was all that could be desired. and a
cpo, breeze modified what otherwise