The morning call., 1894-08-05

this statement. [ may write of
it later. There is no doubt, however, of
the fact. The calling in of the Chinese
troops without asking the consent of
Japan was contrary to the terms of the
treaty which exists between China and
Japan. The Japanese, naturally, were
angry. They have large colonies at
the port of Chemulpo on the Yellow
Sea, Gensan on the west coast. Fusan
on the sonth coast, and here in Seoul
as we'll. They own great deal of prop
erty, and they are the leading foreign ma
ton in Korea. They will not permit China
to have this peninsula, and it is by no
means uncertain that there may not be a
war between China and Japan on Korean
soil. This land has been the fighting ground
Of these two nations in times past, and II
a war occurs now it will be the bloodiest
of Asiatic history. The Koreans have
lew Gatllng guns and some cannons. The
Japanese and Chinese can supply their
troops with all sorts of modern munitions
OF war. They have millions of dollars in
vested in war material, and their soldiers
ana marines are armed with the newest
and latest inventions. As it is now 1t
looks as China would, in such case, have
the friendship and support of the King,
but there is much dissatisfaction wit b the
Government here in Seoul, and the Japanese
would not lack friends or followers. The
King. in fact. can't help himself as regards
China. He has borrowed money from the
Chinese Govern ment and all OF his customs
receipts have been mortgaged to pay the
interest on the debt. The King is so much
in debt and so hard pressed for money
that whether war occurs or not he is
bound to ODen up Korea TO foreigners.
He has wonderful kingdom, filed with
enormous resources, aud it will pay Ameri-
can spectators to keep their eyes on the
mining and railroad possibilities of this
land.
Korea is. perhaps. the least understood
land in Asia, and it is one of the most
wonderful countries on the face of the
globe. l paid my first visit to it six years
ago, only a short time after it had
been opened up to the world. About
fifteen years ago no foreigner could
land on its coasts, and shipwrecked
sailors were forced to stay in
the country, for fear they might carry
news Of it to the barbarous people of
Europe and America. During my stay in
Ii l have Travelled many miles over it's
mountains and valleys, and | expect
to push my way. If possible, right
to the west coast / have visited many
of the countries Of the world, but this
is the queerest and the least known. There
is little in formation in the books of travel
concerning it. There are no guide-books
whatever. 1t is like no other country, and
every day hear new and strange things
about it and its people. 1t is going to be
world. Its people are of their own kind,
and General Clarence Greathouse. the
American adviser of the King, tells me
that the land contains between sixteen
and twenty millions. This is about a
fourth of the population of the United
there are in Spain. 1t is half again
as many as there are in Mexico, and
three times as many people as can
be counted in the State of New York.
These people are scattered over terri
tory of about 100000 square miles. Take
your map of Asia. Look at the north
eastern part of IL, and you will see the
peninsula of Korea hanging down like a
nose from the lower corner of Siberia
and the Chinese province of Manchurla.
This peninsula is of about the same shape
as Florida or Italy, and it has something
like the area Of the latter country. IL is
between 400 and 800 miles long, and from
its extreme north to the southern coasts
the distance is about the same as that be-
tween Cleveland and New York. At no
place is 1t much wider than between New
York and Washington. The sea surround
ing it is peppered with rocky islands, and
its lower coasts are only days sail from
Japan.
Whatever be the outcome of this trouble
with China and Japan, It'll bound TO result
In the opening up OF the country, and the
character of the land and its resources will
be matters of interest [ have travelled over
much of Korea and have asked questions
about all parts of it. It is made up of
mountains and valleys. There are a few
large plains. but the valleys are as fat as
the low lands of the Nile and the noun
tans are flllsd with all sorts of minerals.
The gold mines of Korea turn out from two
to three million dollars worth of dust and
nuggets every year and practically nothing |
but placer mining is done. All of the gold |
belongs to the King and Ihear it whispered |
that bis Majesty has great quantity of |
bullion stored away In his palaces. Not |
long ago it was necessity that some |
money be raised at once 10 complete the |
electric plant which is now being put into |
the palace. and there was practically MOTH |
ing in the treasury.
Forty-seven thousand dollars had to be |
paid. or the work could not 90 on. The |
King was especially anxious that there |
should be no delay, and he sent to Mr.. |
Power, the American, who has charge of |
the electric lighting, two boxes of gold dust |
and nuggets. These came from the palace |
to Mr. Powers house, the distance of at |
least mile. without guard, and it is a /
question whether the pOrters who carried |
them knew what they were bringing. The |
gold was piled in pine boxes, and these |
were hung upon pole which rested on the |
shoulders of the two men who carried them.
The only man who went with :hem was
the Korean interpreter of Mr.. Power.
They were opened when they reached |
the house and were found packed |
full of gold dust and nuggets. The
nuggets were of all shapes and sizes |
from that Of the head of pin to Jumps as
big as your fist. There were two Jumps
OF gold of this size and another was
as thick as the palm of mans hand |
and of about the same shape. It was of |
such nature that it could not have been
rolled far by the water, and it must have
been found very near the site of the orig
ina] lode. This gold was sent by Mr.. Pow
er to the mint at Osaka, Japan. There was
175 pounds of lt.and it assayed eighty-seven
per cent gold and about ten per cent
silver. 1t was sold to the Hong-Kong
and Shanghai Bank for $4,000. and the
money was applied to the part payment
of the electrical machinery which is
now supplying his Majesty with light
Th5re is little doubt but that the
of North Korea are full of
gold. and great deal more is probably
mined than Is generally supposed. The
Korean citizen has no security of property,
and the possession of money always
bring the officials down upon him,
ald they suck az his vitals till
the money is squeezed out of him.
Every now and then native will
come into the establishment of the Ameri-
can firm at Chemulpo and will pay for
what he wants with gold dust. which he
ia kes out of a pipe stem or from belt
Elch he has bound about his body
under his clothes. Often men want