The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-08-23

Japanese in 1892, but in 1898, with the aid
OF the Chinese, compelled their con-
querors to abandon the country. Bishop
Ridel OF the Catholic church in Corea,
states that the so-called "Neutral Terri
tory" between China and Corea has now
been occupied by the government OF
Corea. The bishop says in 1879: "The
land through which we travel has been
inhabited only a short time. A few years
ago IL was q vast desert which separated
China from Corea. The Chinese govern
ment has sold the land and to-day small
new dwellings may be seen every where.
After telling and burningthe trees, they
titled the land, which soon will be fertile.
This tract of land contains about 1852
square kilometers, and the Corean gov
eminent possesses upon IL several
houses.r
In 1866 a French. expedition escaladed
kanghoa, u town on the Han, 40 miles
from its mouth, and endeavored to obtain
satisfaction from the Corean government
for the murder OF two Roman Catholic
bishops and seven priests who had been
put to death by order OF the ministry
but the town was found to be wholly de-
serted. The Coreans sent to the French
some professions OF desiring to negotiate
with them, but were only bent on gain
ing time for the purpose of overwhelming
the handful OF invaders. The French
found themselves one day confronted by
about 500 soldiers, who discharged on
them II heavy fire, wounding thirty-two
men and three officers. Admiral Roze
had to embark his forces, and returning
to Chefoo found that the French govern
ment would not support this hasty ac-
ton, inaugurated by the ambassador at
Picking. In the same year an American
trading ship, the General sherman, as
cended the P~iengyang river, and was
destroyed with all on board, in obedience
to orders from the regent, while lying
dry on the shore, having departed from
the proper channel during "a period OF
Hoods. In 1871 a United States squadron
under Admiral Rogers sailed to Corea
from Nagasaki, advanced up the river
Han, and began to survey the river and
forts in the direction of the capital.
While thus occupied they were fred upan
from the forts, and as Il punishment for
this action the Americans on June II
captured and destroyed several OF their
river Notifications. Being unable, how
ever, to open negotiations with the king,
Admiral Rodgers released the prisoners
he had taken.
The Corean display at the Worlds Fair
in 1893 was immense and wonderful, prin-
cipally products of the loom, and miner
ais and precious stones. These were not
artisticalle set as those from other coun-
tries, yet it aroused the surprise of all to
see so much come from so far away and
benighted IA land.
Corea is so fertile and rich in metals
that, If the government Of the country
gave ii a chance, the people with their
simple wants might be very well of. A
recent traveller says: "The fertility OF this
valley surprises us, for we had been told
that Coreans cultivated as little ground
as possible; but here were rich fields in
endless succession, giving promise OF II
good harvest, though the quality OF the
rice is not equal to the japanese; excel
lent hemp in patches beside the numer-
GUS small hamlets OF two to six houses
which we passed, each patch enough for
the requirements OF the owners, with a
small margin for trading purposes; to-
bacco I or S feet high, with long, coarse
leaves, bearing witness to the want OF
care in its civilizations; while castor oil
plants bordered the little garden plots OF
chillies, cabbages and turnips, which we
found outside each house or collection OF
houses.
Besides flax, maize and cotton, there
were fields OF the small millet (Setaria
~ltalica) substitute for porridge, and OF
the tall millet, Susa or Kaoliang CHolcus
sorghum), with stems S to ~ feet high,
and as thick as a mans thumb, turning
to golden yellow or bright mahogany
color. From the latter kind the Coreans
make the coarse cloth OF which their
rough garments are composed, when they
do not use manchester shirtings; also
fields OF beans, food for cattle and men,
and the foundation OF japanese soy and
our Worcestershire sauce.
"Many Of the houses had their roofs
covered with gourds, while here and there
were patches OF melons. In the villages,
a little way oil the road, we could see
fruit trees, pear, persimmon and peach,
but in those on the road very seldom did
we come across any. All the fruit, except
Hamheung pears, was hard, dry and
tastcless.p f.