New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-07
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOPICS.
CoREA AND THE COREANS.
A REPORT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT BY THH
UNITED STATES MINISTER

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6-Lucius II. Foote.
United States Minister to Corea has sent to the Depar
ment OF State youminOus report that country in
which some facts OF interest stated At different
times says Mr. FOote cOuRtry has been oyerrun by
China and JAPAN and has paid tribute to each In 1896
Chinese army invaded COrea, and entering the CAPT.
tai, made peace by exacting tribute. Each year an
embassy goes TO Pekin with certain gifts and brings
back the Chinese calendar To receive this calendar is
evidence Of dependency and it is not used is re-.
garded act Of treason II necessary report TO
the chinese Emperor the accession OF new king to the
throne, and to obtain his sanction the same Since
1886 COrea has enjoyed profound peace, and It has
been policy not excite hostites with neigh.
bOrs. To that end she prohibited the working OF
gold and silver mines, lest this discovery of these
precious metals should attract the lust Of other
nations The population is estimated at 100000 and
the number Of houses at 100000
There are numerous private schools but no general
school system Nearly all the common people can read
and write the COrean language. In this language hers
many simple books, but the learning OF the country
is the learning of China The titles to lands derived
from the Government and are carefully registered in
local Offices The tenure depends upon the payment OF
taxes The only coin Of the cOuatry the copper cash.
525 OF which arc equivalent to Mexican dollar But
offices established in the principal towns and
some places on the public highways the Government
maintains stations with pOsdOrses for the public use
According 20 official accounts there 100000
rolled militia in the lnry but they uuaccustomeI
to drill and are without
Many wild animals ABOUND In the mountains, such
as tigers eOpards. bears Wild bOIrs, etc. aud pleasN
ants, water fowl and other game-birds abundant
OF the domestic animals the bulls and COWS compare
faVOraby with those OF Amerlca. They well bred
an used beasts Of burden Horses are extremely
small and inferior; swine poor ana i-faYOrei, ana
goats and sheep rarely If Mr. Foote
found in the markets aprlCOts, -ctariues peaches.
puWs, apples aud several Kinds Of berries These
fruits however perhaps for The OF cultivation and
selection, inferior those grown IN the Uhitl
states fhe variety VI vegetables Is limited and tue
quality poor Even the potato is unknown
In spite OF tha severe restrictions, no lncOneldeiaDe
amount Of gOdduSJ Is extracted each year, and mines
II gold silver, copper lead ana iron said to Ia
all parts Of the country. In the northern districts
wheat barley, rye, cattle giusenR,-whch Is Govern
tiger and leopard skns turs and hides produced
The products OF the central and southern districts arc
rice, silk cotton. hemp tobacco. wheat, corn, barley
beans mile dye-wOOds fruits vegetables, cattle and
hides. Among the manufactures are SILK, cotton aud
nnen cloths, iron and stone ware, pottery, hats shoes
paper mats, fans, screens combs pipes, brushes tiles
agricultural i'm Dements, etc. Cloths woven IN hand
looms, pottery Is made by OF the wheel speci
mems Of old bronze and porcelain are occasionally
found.
The women married aud uum arried, are kept IN great
secusiOn. Marriage is matter OF negotiation between
parents and friends OF the parties, and Is often con-
can De distinguished Oy the mtJHOu OF wearing tutit
nar banging down In cues The women adorn uer heals
with ba DIS OF false hair Their dress consists OF Luc
broad trousers divided below tue Bnces and fastened at
IN mourning eat no meat and pay no visits They are
Dressed IN robes OF coarse gray cotton cloth aud wear
immense hats, ana when they abrOa hide the
lower half OF the face with mask Smoking is a uni
YeTsal habit, TO which both sexes are addicted