Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-05-10
The Nnpiini oI Norea.

| Corea, M, a. II is now written, Korea, is
one Of the least known OF Asiatic countries.
The following account Of visit to its capital
is taken itom recent number Of the Shangh
Courier ON the Sth December, preparations
were made for a journey to Seoul Five
ponies were ordered TO be in readiness at the
hotel next morning al O'Clock but to their
great disappointment, when the travellers got
up next morning they found the ponies were
not forthcoming the stables were empty, and
no ponies TO he had in the place AT all. Another
day was spent walking about the miserable
huts and ON the following morning, the tray
ellers turned out at 8 o'clock in anticipation Of
finding the ponies at the hotel, but were again
sold After good deal oftroublc and running
about, they succeeded in getting poor lot Of
ponies together and after spending a couple
OF hours in packing baggage, and saddling the
ponies, the party proceeded on their march to
Seoul-the party consisting OF two foreigners
and Chinese servant three riding ponies, and
two ponies carrying baggage, with half
dozen Koreans leading them The poor
brutes trudged along at a very slow pace, and
aiNSi AN'libhN quincy party 'illNttl n
Mapoo at pm. The weather was beautiful
fine and warm. The road was in very fair
condition, but very few houses were to be seen
in the course OF the journey. We travelled
through several valleys, with a large extent OF
flat countary, though this part is mountainous
generally throughout the entire district as fat
as the eye could reach. Patches OF small rice.
fields were noticed all along the roadside and
in the valleys through which we passed. There
is no cultivation the slopes of the hills as in
Japan, the slopes being covered with sho,
and thick brushwood, occasionally interspersed
with small and slender fiji trees, some of these
being in irregular clumps of natural growth,
and others apparently planted in rows Some
, Of the hills were of rather peculiar shape, and
seemed to II. OF volcanic origin. All goods
and merchandise are conveyed 10 the capita
| by pack horses, or rather ponies, and heavy
leads by oxen, and these are everywhere to be
met with along the road. The oxen are very
fine large animals, and carry tremendously
. heavy loads. The country people are very
civil and g5od.natred, and not at all inclined
TO give offence 10 the foreigner but ON the con
4, lrary 10 assist him in every way they can
v The Light OF the nth December was passed
y Korean house at Mapoo (; a room IL feet by
9 was all the accommodation for the travellers
. and all their baggage they had their supper
on the floor, and slept on the floor the room
i being warmed by fiues underneath the 40 i,
= blankets were no, so much in demand as at the
1 -
&C Mapoo to Seoul IS about four miles and next
Il day this distance was covered in two hours,
!, walking slowly, the road being bad and stony.
e The headquarters OF the Korean Customs al,
), Seoul consists OF an extensive yamen, within
s which the entire staff reside, in small but com.
4 Portable quarters, the servants being mixture
:. Of Koreans and Chinese.
: Very fine ensofnative manufacture. and
: beautiful landscapes by Korean old masters
adorn the walls Of some Of the houses In the
d palace gardens there is large artificial pond,
=, and the gardens contain all the fines, fruits to be
# found in Korea, and in summer they were
IS loaded with fruit, including apples, pears.
4, etc, as testified by those who have visited it
e during the fruit season. The guardians Of the
y n,lace grounds ieu,nchs, are y.,v mood na,ur.
:, ed and apn.or del;eb,ed in examinino a far.
" eipner's dress or anv,bino he may have in hi,
:" pockets to show Them. They will moi, how.
: ever. accept any fees for The trouble The,
II take in showing you round, and this would
i probably bcconsidered aninsult II offered After
, few minutes friendly intercourse with these
$ people, chiefly by signs and gestures, we took
d our leave of the eunuehs in charge Of the
e queens palace, and went to view the ruins OF
e the kings palace. These ruins extend over
!. an area OF couple hundred yards square. and
4 bear unmstakeabe signsof once stately man.
sion. Seveialmassive brick chnneys weretobe
i seen standing among the ruins some were
r. square and others octagonal, surmounied with
ornamental brick work, aud the Korea style
If in palace chimneys was much admired.
,e Beingsitishedw what We have seen among
the ruins, we visited the northern part OF the
,e palace grounds park ,hiclly whit
:. trees, and extending over the slope OF very
n high hill, on the top Of which the palace is MS
n ing in the distance. This seems 10 be most
enjoyable spot, and il IN the vicinity Of shang,
D. hal would be considered paradise. There is
j no game in the park and indeed very few birds.
re which seems rather astonishing, considering
a, that the place Is seldom fsequen,cd except BY