The Washington herald., 1910-05-11
TIGERS TROUBLING KOREA.
Disarmament OF Natives Leaves VII
Inge. without Protection.

From Tho New York sun
The report recently came out OF Korea
that because OF the general dlsarm!ng OF
the natives by the japanese in their
efforts 20 crush rebellion against Japan
ese rule there had been a dangerous in
crease in the number OF tigers IN the
little settled districts. During the last
winter. SO one report had Il. the tigers
had become so bold as 20 invade the
mountain villages in the north of Korea
In broad daylight
II the tiger is again becoming as dan
CeroUs IN Korea as he was before the
introduction OF modern weapons. thirty
years ago. the plight Of the Koreans IS
serious. 50 common was this beast
throughout the peninsula that until very
recent years the inhabitants OF Seoul.
the capital itself, used occasionally 20
see a yellow fash IN the gloom os the
unlit streets and hear the scream Of
some victim. In the country districts
the tiger has always been a constant
dread, even though latterly foreigners
from China and Japan had been drop
ping over 10 Korea for a tiger hunt IN
increasing numbers.
The Korean tiger Is larger than the
Bengal beast, wider OF flank and broader
Of head. His markings are not vlvidly
orange and black, as those Of the Indian
variety. but are dingler and OF a lighter
shade. Long white hair clothes his belly
and drapes the inner sides OF HIS fore
legs. The fur is thicker, for the winters
IN Korea are often severe. The noun
tains are his habitat. and there being no
jungles or heavy grass plains IN Korea,
the tiger makes his lair I'm the caves
and among the rocks OF the higher
ridges
The tiger has always been held in such
awe and terror by the Koreans that he
has come 20 have a mythical personality.
and stands well at the head OF all the
gods Of vengeance which make the life
Of the supersttious Korean one OF per-
petual endeavor IN Precipitation.
In the old days, when the bow and
spear were the only weapons of the
Koreans. the man who brought down a
tiger was honored by all hts fellows.
/ Until recent years, when modern rifles
began to be introduced into the country.
Korean hunters occasionally went after
the fierce beasts with Old Gintocks OF
hand cannon. which had 10 be sup
ported on the shoulder Of one man while
another fired. The missile was almost
os big as a clock-weight. and II II
/ landed Il was calculated 20 bring death
TO the tiger. but IL a miss was scored
death was easily the portion Of the
huntsmen. Those hand cannon could
| only be reloaded after about fifteen min
utes' hard work.
! With modern rifles tho Koreans were
/ able 70 do better, and until the Japanese
began their systematic disarmIng OF al
the mountain people to prevent the
/ spread OF the disaffection against the
rule OF japan the tiger was kept down
fairly well. Even under those circum-
stances sporting Englishmen did not have
to go more than days ride up the
Han River from Seoul to get into the
! tiger country.
/ But now, according 10 the report from
the harassed Land of the Morning Calm
the natives have no protection against
their old enemy except traps and pit.
falls. The tiger is as much a master as
the japanese.