The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-13
Corea-Its Rulers and People.

TO Corea, and correspondent of the
New York Herald furnishes the follow
ing:
Seoul, the capital of Corea, is in the
northwestern part of the peninsula and
near the Salu, or Hau, river, being about
sixty miles from its mouth. The old
maps put it directly on the river, but
recent visits have proved that town
which is near it, and which is on the
river, was probably mistaken for Seoul
when foreigners were not permitted to
approach near enough to determine its
position 1t is about an hour and halfs
walking distance away from the river.
The capital is walled city, built at the
foot of range of hills, and the site was
evidently selected as affording an easy
and natural means for defense, the hill
being in the rear and the river in front
1t is said to contain about 100000 in
habitants, bat the walls enclose several
times the area occupied by the houses, and
after surrounding the town ascend the
hills and form barrier ahng the top
most ridges. The city is divided into
four nearly equal parts by two immense
streets which traverse it at right angles
through the centre. Upon these two
streets is carried on the principal bust
ness OF the place.
The King and his Conoubines.
The King is a young man of thirty
two, and 1T is only since the summer OF
1882 that he has actually been at the
head OF the State. Unlike most Eastern
potentates, he has but one wife, but at
the same time he may have as many as
he chooses. 1t is stated that there is no
limit to the royal concubines, but that, as
the Queen keeps a sharp lookout upon
her royal master, they lead life of leis-
ure and idleness. AS all the court
dresses, embroideries and many other
fancy articles are said to be made in the
palace, it is but fair to presume that
these women find something with which
to occupy themselves.
One OF the most curious circumstances
in regard to the King is that he has no
name. He is simply known as "The
King, and not until he dies is a name
given him. He has the power to name
his successor to the throne, and that sue
cessor need not of necessity be the next
OF blood. He is never seen by his peo-
pie, and only leaves the palace precincts
twice year, and then for the purpose of
per5o ming religious ceremonies at a
temple some half mile away. In stature
he is below the medium height; has
harfdsome, pleasant face, Jet black hair,
a light moustache and imperial of the
same color, white complexion, beauti-
full teeth, and, the most noticeable of all,
dancing black eyes that seem to be over
flowing with merriment. His State dress
IS OF crimson So tin, heavily embroidered
with golden dragons, and the dress of
the mobiles at court is of dark green,
with square piece of embroidery on the
breast and on the back representing flying
s1orks. He is always accompanied by
two immense eunuchs, who are also
mobiles. Up to the time of the presenta-
ton of General Foote, the American
Envoy, in May last, the King had seen
but one other foreigner, Mr.. Won Molten
dorff, Minister of Customs 1t is the
latter's. intention, as the gradual intro
duction of new ideas will permit, to have
the King appear in public among the
people. He is already prepared for it,
but it is questionable whether the peo-
pie are quite ready for such an innova-
ton upon their old established customs.
The Queen and her Household.
The Queens household is entirely
separate from that of the King, as owing
to the customs of the country, she is sur
rounded by women and can only be seen
by women. She has never been seen by
a foreigner, but is described as being very
beautiful. Before the arrival of the wife
of the American Minister in Seoul the
Queen had expressed an ardent desire to
see her, but as yet she has not done so,
although she sent eight of her ladies-in-
waiting to make formal call soon after
Mrs. Foote reached there. So closely
were they guarded and concealed that no
one of the legation save Mrs. Foote saw
them. 1t is said that Corean ladies are
averse to calling, owing to the fact that
they do not wish their calls returned, ,
because in that case foreigners might see
the low position they occupy in the social
scale and the degraded condition of their
lives. In word, the Corean wife,
whether of high or low degree, merely
occupies the position of housekeeper and
maid-of-all-work, having no social posi-
ton whatever
Although the Corean women exhibit
greater curiosity to see foreigners, and
can be continually seen peering from be-
hind doors and stockades, the soldiers
keep an ever watchlul eye on them and
drive them back to safe distance. On