Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-26

follow. The most Of the way was on brfdle-
paths. and a great part of 1t was really
dangerous on account of the tigers and
leopards. 1t was like going through a new
world, and were Ii not for the notes which
took on the ground, / might think the
whole journey a dream.
The Snake and the Crown Prince.
I had spent a month in Seoul, and had
been hobnobbing with the Corean mobiles,
having had my audience with the king.
ard I supposed that I would have no
trouble in securing an escort across the
country. i was mistaken. Just at the time
wanted to go the King of Corea had or
dered all the horses in Seoul to be brought
to his palace city. which lies at the back
of the capital, in order to enable him to
move to another vast establishment which
he has in another part of the city. He has
more power, you know, than the car, and
he Is more superstitious than an African
king. There are snakes in nearly all the
roofs Of the Corean houses. and just be-
fore we were ready to go big black
snake about as long as mans leg had
dropped down out OF the roof into the
crown princes face while he was sleeping,
and the king thought this was a bad omen.
and that the gods wanted him to move out
of the palace for time He sent out his
orders. and every pony in Seoul was laid
hold of by his officials. 1 had engaged four
fast trotters, and the grooms were bring
ing them to my house, when the officials
saw them and seized them for the king.
Had i or one of the foreigners been
with them. we could probably have held
them, but were not. and they were car
ried off to the palace. / was stopping at
this time with Mr.. Power, the kings cleo
trician, and he sent his soldiers outside
the city. with orders to lay hold of the first
ponies that came. They brought four
shaggy beasts out of party of eight.
They tried to catch the whole lot, but the
other four suspected their Intentions ard
galloped away. They brought them into
our courtyard. and we persuaded them to
go with us. A high official in Corea. as a
rule. grabs everything he can get. and pays
for nothing. On this trip We paid for
everything. and IL cost me to go from one
side of the peninsula to the other three
hundred thousand cash, or about 800.
Carpenters Gorgeous Outfit.
My party consisted of four ponies and
elk men. and Travelled Ike Corean noble.
The king had given me a passport. and
this had an envelope almost as big az this
paper. and tho Ccrean characters upon it
were circlsd with red in order to keep any
enc from changing them. This described
me as n mighty American who was visit
ing Corea, and 1T directed the magistrates
to entertain me on my way. We had
servant with us, who wore gorgeous
white gown and a hat Of black horsehair.
This man usually took the passport ana
rode ahead with il to the villages in order
that the magistrates might know that We
were coming, and as We got to the towns
we were met by trumpets and bands. and
were escorted in state to the government
offices, in the guest rooms CT which
were kept over right. / had six CoreanS
in my party, and made the trip alone with
them. My old friend, General PAX, of whom
I have written before. was with me, and
he commanded the outfit. He bad gor-
geouS blue suit, which he bought for the
trip, and his clothes were spotless and
clean. His horsehair hat, / venture cost
SIS, and his shoes of kid with heavy
soles of untanred rawhide. PAX spoke
very good English. and he acted my in
terpreter and commander-in-chief. We had
four grooms. two of whom were married.
and hence had the right to wear hats. The
other two were bare he AIDED bachelors. and
they were the shabbiest, shoddieSt, dirtiest.
LATEST quartet / have ever seen inside Of