Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-09
KOREANS AS
OF 1900 YEARS AGO
Those of Northern Region
Know Little or Nothing of
the Civilized World.

Because of the widespread agita-
ton concerning the future political
status of Korea, and the charges of
foreign persecution there, the Nat
ienal Geographic Society has issued
a bulletin concerning one corner of
1.-The Hermit kingdom"
although Korea has civilization
extending nearly 1000 years into the
past, many of the natives in the
north have never seen white man.
says the bulletin, which is quoted
from a communication by Roy c.
Andrews.
'"They are living among the hills
today, much as did their ancestors
centuries ago. worshiping mythical
gods in the rocks and trees on every
in semi-slavery. and dying in ignor-
ance that beyond the narrow con-
f1es of their own peninsula lies a
zworld replete with undreamed-of won-
ders.
entail seclusion, for centuries Korea
successfully guarded the secrets of
her mountains and her people; but
at last the clamor of foreigners at
her doors could no longer be stilled,
and she yielded reluctantly, inch by
foundations of her weak government
were crumbling beneath her.
Treaty Signed in 1882.
at was in 1882 that the first treaty
with Korea was signed by the United
States, and foreigners took up their
residence with official sanction at
Chemulpo, the seaport of the capital,
Seoul. Even with this foothold in the
new country, the unwelcome visitors
pushed their way but slowly into
other parts Of the kingdom. and as
late as 1897 only a relatively small
men.
After the Russian-Japanese war
Of 1904, however. when the country
was freely opened to foreigners and
it's railway had been completed, the
exploration of the northern part pro-
crossed by leaps and bounds until the
only extensive unknown area lay
along the north central boundary
between the Tumen and Yula rivers.
This was said to be a region of
treacherous swamps, densely forest
ed plateaus and gloomy canons-a
vast wilderness, treasuring in its
depths, the ghostly peak of the Long
White mountain. wonderfully beauti-
full in its robes Of glistening pun
iceI The secret of its summit, where
the Dragon Princes Pool lies far
down in the ancient crater. had been
learned as early as 1903 by two Jesuit
missionaries. coming from the north
through Manchuria, but the ap-
proaches to its base from the south
and west in Korea had never been
traversed by a white man.
Like Stepping Backward.
"Musan was revelation. Here, on
the very edge of Korea, lies this won
derful ancient city. its grim old walls
bearing five centuries of history. 1t
was like stepping backward to
another world, into story of the
Arabian Nights.
Few white men have been for
tunate enough to wander inland to
the gates of this ancient city. During
SLAMS took refuge there, and since
then a half dozen foreigners have dis
covered It; but. except for these
stragglers, Musan lies unknown to
the western world. The great central
palace. or. reception hall, remains
intact, and close by, in partial ruins,
is the temple guest-house. The
smaller public buildings. the gates.
the watch towers, and, most OF all,
the walls themselves, each one has its
own peculiar fascination, telling Its
own story or adding chapter to that
of its neighbor. -r-,s =
1--WE spent nearly three weeks hunt
ing there, These northern tigers are
splendid animals. more beautiful than
their relatives of India or the Malay
Peninsula, and range among the Bit
terly cold mountains of China. Korea
and Manchuria far up into Siberia.
ION the first days hunt at Hozando
a deer was shot. The bullet, passing
through both lungs, filled the thorax
with clothed blood. and as soon as
the animal was opened Paik, my
Korean bearer. plunged his face
into the half Liquid mass, drinking
and eating until the last drop was
gone: then removing the steaming
red liver, he cut it into slices. swal-
lowing them as fast as possible.
II was tremendously surprised. but
learned afterward that the Koreans
believe the blood of a deer or any
wild animal, II drunk when warm. to
be q splendid tonic. Tigers claws,
whiskers, bones and teeth are es-
pecially valuable. and preparations
made from these materials were
often given to soldiers before a
battle or any especially hazardous
enterprise, since they were believed
a. ;.n,,Icot 70 great hravery"