The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1894-01-11
RICHES OF coREA.
Seven Wonderful Things in the Little
Empire.

Within the last few years Amer
lean citizens have developed some
valuable mining properties in Corea,
that somewhat mysterious country
that until q comparatively recent
period has remained a closed book
to the outside world. John X. Web
ster, who has passed several years in
the country, aud who recently re.
turned, spoke entertainlying to a Call
reporter yesterday regarding the
people with whom San Franciscans
are being brought into contact by
reason Of the Midwinter Fair.
"You Californians grumble," said
Mr.. Webster, "if you have few days
Of consecutive rain, but in Corea 1t
comes in the shape OF a defuge, and
ofttimes so prolonged as to gain for
the country the appellation OF being
the ireland OF the East
although there are about 1900
OD inhabitants occupying the $4,000
square miles constituting the coun-
try called Corea, little trade is CARR
ed on. Paper and ginseng are bar
tered with China. and small ship
ments Of varied products are made
to Japan. Tobacco, cotton and rico
are the principal and almost tho
sole articles of agriculture. The
wealth OF the country is in tho min
erals which abound and which the
natives work very skilfully.
"The people, however, are simple.
minded and without any ambition,
and consequently make little effort
to advantagcously use the gifts Of
nature. The dominant feeling which
stirs the blood OF the average Corean
is an inextinguishable feeling OF
antipathy To China. When the
Mongol conquerors overran the
Celestial Empire, Corea or Chs.
Sien as il was known in the second
century---was also subdued.
"Under the Ming dynasty Cores
was again made Independent, but
subsidiary to China, with the It'll,
of Kaoli. Wang. It is rather q curl
Gus fact that the first seeds Of Chris
tianity were first sown in Corea II
1892 by the members Of the army o
the Japanese usurper, Taicosamu
which was composed largely o
Christian converts. In 1884 tn,
Jesuit missionaries began their work
and from 1875 to 1856 many Frencl
missionaries acted as enforcement
10 the Jesuit fathers. In tho latte
year nine missionaries were mas
sacred and tho country was invade,
by French. Notwithstanding thi
invasion, and the later attempts O
England as well as this country l.
open the country, il still remained
terra incognita until few years az
when certain ports were throw
open for trade.
"Within the boundaries OF Core
are seven wonders, which are vent
rated by the people and played
prominent role in antiquity as We
!. as presenting some puzzling feature
- to the modern investigator. TIL
I 6rst wonder Is the two wells, one q
each end Of the peninsula, which prt
sent the curious characteristic OF on
. being full, while the other Is empt,
" The water OF the one ID exceedingl
bitter, that Of the other Is plessar
and sweet to the palate. I'll
second wonder is cave from whic
issues an ice-cold wind with sue
force that strong man cannot stan
before il. The third wonder IL . III
mineral spring near Kin Shanto
which is capable Of curing sickne
and diseases Of all sorts, the med
cinal properties Of which are trul
/ extraordinary.
J "A pine forest which cannot
cradicated constitutes the fourt
wonder. Despite injury inflicted O
the roots the young trees shoot u
er persistently. The fifth wonder is
hot stone, which from time imm
|. mortal has been lying on the sur
N NIT OF hill and evolving a CLOWN
~ heat. The most extraordinary, no,
ever, is the sixth wonder-tl
famous stone which stands, or,
least, appears to stand, in front
q palace erected to its honor. I'll
a block is q massive and rectangul
IN and free on all sides. Two m,
" standing ono at each end eau dra
q cord underneath the stone fro
side to side without encounteril
opposition OF any sort. The seyent
Is, marvel OF Corea is sweating Bud
!. ha, which is guarded in q great tel
- pie, in the court Of which, for thir
years on each side, not even q bla
Of grass will grow. No tree
IS, flower will flourish on the sacr,
spot, and oven wild animals are cal
full to avoid the sacred precincts
the temple"
9 The country, according to the Q
- count given by Mr.. Webster, Offer
fine field for American industry a
capital in tho development Of t
mines. Some Of the placer groun
are exceedingly rich, and silver q
- quicksilver, rs well as other meta
are found in paying quantities