all the little world of Hong Kong becomes limp, and damp, and mouldy, with scarcely energy enough left to languidly weary for the dry weather and the sea breezes, which for half the year Victoria Peak so jealously keeps out.*

• Thomson: "Straits of Malacca," p. 203. Mr. Thomson's account of Hong Kong is acknowledged to be one of the best extant, but, contrary to the almost universal opinion, he considers the island "one of the healthiest stations on the coast of China." The last words may be a saving clause, for the "coast of China" is not healthy. Yet, even with this qualification, naval officers will not altogether agree with this excellent writer and observer.

COREA.

From Hong Kong to Corea is a long voyage, for the little island lies at one end of China and the Peninsula at the other extremity of the coast. But the voyage is even a greater one politically than it is physically. To Hong Kong all the world is invited to buy and sell: from Corea all the world is as jealously shut out as were traders and travellers a few years ago from Japan. Chosen," as the country is called by the natives, was known to China from a very early period, though it was not until about the eleventh century that the scattered states of which it was originally composed became welded into one monarchy, which has always remained an integral part of the Chinese Empire-Mongol or Tartar. The Japanese, however, have had something to say in the affairs of the Peninsula ; for, irritated by the aggressive character of the Coreans, they invaded the country and for a time occupied great part of it. Indeed, up to the year 1790, the Corcan king was compelled to send an embassy to Japan to announce his accession; but beyond the fact that annually a mission bearing tribute is sent to Pekin, the Coreans have remained almost unknown to the world, and maintain a state of complete isolation from any other people. Towards the close of last century the Roman Catholic missionaries managed to get a footing in the Peninsula, and made some progress among the Buddhists, but in 1866 the last of the priests were either assassinated or compelled to escape by aid of their converts from the country. Corea was not, however, to be allowed to enjoy that happy existence which, according to Montaigne, consists in being ennuyeuse-forgetting the world, and by the world forgotten. The murder of some of the French missionaries brought on the scene Admiral Roze, who in 1866 destroyed the town of Kanghoa, with its military establishments, but his exertions were fruitless in obtaining any concessions as to trade or foreign intercourse. As little effectual-among other attempts-was the expedition of the United States' Admiral Rodgers, in 1870. He forced his way up the River Hang-Kiang to Haniang, Seoul, or Seyool, the capital; but beyond the fact that he expended much gunpowder, and forced the Coreans to do the same, the Admiral returned as he had arrived. The Japanese were, however, more successful. The eloquence of their envoys-aided by the possible eloquence of their ironclads-has succeeded in opening two ports-Fusan-po and Gensang-to the traders of Nippon, in gaining permission for a Japanese envoy to permanently reside at the capital, and among other minor advantages for Japanese vessels to enter Corean ports when in distress. In addition, an area of twentyfive miles from Gensang-which is forty-five miles from the capital-is assigned as a region in which the Japanese settlers may wander freely. The town of Gensang is situated in the province of Tokugen, and is intersected by two highways, known as Kankyo and Kagen. The harbour is one of the best and busiest on the eastern coast of Corea, and its inhabitants are noted for their familiarity with business matters. A proof of the importance of the place may be found in the fact that the natives have conferred the name of gensantsu upon a certain fish in great demand in the country, because it appears that the price of the commodity can only be established by that of the town market. Something analogous was formerly the case with all kinds of merchandise in Japan, where

everything had, nominally, to pass through the marts at Osaka. Of late years, however, Gensang has received a check in its activity from the rivalry of the neighbouring city of Basan, a circumstance which at first induced the belief that the Japanese Government had asked for the opening of the latter port. But as Gensang is only twenty "ri”— that is, forty-five miles-distant from Fusan, the decision has been arrived at, with justice, that it would not be advisable to have two commercial factories in such close proximity to each other. Another reason for the preference shown to the site selected is that it contains more than 2,000 houses, and it is hoped that when the Japanese concession and the works of the new harbour are terminated, the town will more than regain its former consequence, and overtake, in the extent of its trade, both Fusan and Basan. Now that all arrangements are completed on the east coast, the Japanese Government is having a survey made along the peninsular shores of the Yellow Sea, with the object of making choice of a western port, the authorities at Haniang having by treaty consented to allow a settlement there also. The vicinity of a village called Saibutsu would be admirably adapted for the purpose, although there is only a population of about 100 souls. The Coreans deem it their best strategic position in that part of the territory. It is near a famous castle named Eisojo, and a large fortress has been erected hard by.* These concessions constitute the thin edge of the wedge, which cannot fail eventually to open up Corea to the commerce of the world, much to the material welfare of the people, though possibly not quite so much to their moral advancement.

We really know very little about this mysterious peninsula, except that it is about three and a quarter times larger than Scotland, and is so mountainous that a French missionary has compared its surface to the sea under the influence of a gale of wind. The highest peaks, however, do not exceed 9,000 feet, and most of them are much lower; but there is no part of the country so flat that it can be styled a plain. The coast line is not very irregular, being broken into bays and harbours only here and there. The eastern shore presents to the voyager along it the appearance of steep cliffs, here and there declining into sandy dunes, but the south and west coasts are more irregular, and guarded by a number of small islands, the largest of which is Quelpart, forty-six miles long; but the Port Hamilton group, owing to the fact of their containing a good harbour, will be of greater future importance to whoever holds them. The country is also intersected by a number of rivers, some of them navigable for large vessels. The climate, on the whole, is more equable, owing to the south-west monsoon, than that of the continental portion of North China, but is subject to extremes of cold in winter and heat in summer, and is, moreover, very wet. It produces most of the fruits of Europe indifferently well; and in addition gives good returns of tobacco, rice, wheat, rye, millet, cotton, hemp, and ginseng.* The potato also grows very well; but the Government having interdicted its use, it is now only growing surreptitiously in some of the outlying districts, though its general cultivation would add greatly to the welfare of the population. Coal is abundant, but little used, while the working of gold, silver, and copper—also

The "Osaka Nippon," quoted in the Tokio Times, November 1st, 1879.

+ The root of an araleaceous plant (Panax ginseng) in great demand in China as a medicine in fevers. Its proper name is "Jin-san."

plentiful—is prohibited under severe laws. Sheep and goats succeed excellently, but the king has alone the right of rearing them, and even then their use is restricted to sacrificial purposes. The dog is considered a more dainty article of diet, and in addition, cattle and pigs are eaten. Small but strong horses are plentiful, and the usual wild animals of North China are found in moderate abundance in the less settled districts. The eight provinces into which the kingdom is divided contain many walled cities, but none of them of any magnificence. The king is a vassal of China. He reigns as an absolute monarch, and in his prerogative and the divine afflatus which surrounds him, is considered even more sacred a personage than his suzerain. The king rules, aided by three ministers and a number of judges, and each province is presided over by a governor. But the nobility have obtained inordinate privileges, and in reality oppose the people on one side, and encroach on the royal prerogative on the other. The army consists of all persons capable of bearing armsthe nobles excepted—and, theoretically at least, every office of state is open to any person who can, under the Chinese system of competitive examination, attain the necessary degree; but corruption universally prevails, in spite of the existence of a class of officials corresponding to the Chinese "censors" (p. 51), whose duty it is to privately supervise the acts of the higher dignitaries in the provinces. Though polygamy is not permitted, concubinage is, and women hold a very low rank in the domestic life of Corea. Filial piety is, however, carried to an extreme even unknown in China, and the ties of blood are recognised in a manner which would shame the proverbial "fortieth cousin" of the Scottish Highlands.

The people, who are said to number about eight and a half millions, are nevertheless miserably poor, and their houses and dress bear witness to their impecuniosity. There is little trade in the country, but it is increasing. The Japanese and other foreign goods imported at Fusan-po did not, during any year from 1876 to 1878, amount to more than half a million dollars in value. But during 1878-79 Corean products to the value of over £90,000 were brought to Japan. These consisted for the most part of rice, white beans, hides, gold dust, "irico," poque silk, and bones. The imports for Japan were valued at £75,000, and consisted of shirtings, lawns, T-cloth, copper slabs, and cotton yarn. Of the imports, however, less than £11,000 worth were Japanese products. Twenty-four Japanese steamers, and about 450 sailing vessels (junks), entered and left the port of Fusan.* The roads are miserable, and consequently wheeled carriages are not in use (p. 69). At the markets or fairs most of the commercial intercourse of the people is carried on, but as each peasant usually supplies himself with all his needs, there is not a great prospect of wealth to be derived from Corea, at least until permission to open up the mines is accorded to foreigners. Paper is one of the few articles in the manufacture of which they excel, and as the Japanese use paper for almost every purpose in life, food excepted, there may spring up a brisk intercourse between them and the Coreans in this staple. They are skilled workers in metal, and in Eastern Asia Corean sabres and poniards bear much the same reputation as Damascus blades once did in the West. But at present nearly all transactions must be effected by barter, for, with the exception of a few small copper coins, there is no medium of no medium of exchange in use. Finally, when we add that anything worthy the name of a bridge is unknown except in the capital, * Tokio Times, November 1st, 1879; see also "Reports of Embassy and Legation" for 1879.

the backward state of the country, compared with China and Japan even when first opened to Europeans, may be imagined. The Japanese are, however, not likely to leave many stones unturned in order to effect a profitable intercourse with their neighbours. It may nevertheless be taken for granted that the Coreans will do all they can, both from their own inclinations and by the instigation of the Chinese, to limit this as far as possible. Even at present the Chinese and Japanese junks, which fish trepang (Vol. IV., p. 242)

and herrings off the coast, are not allowed to land their crews or cargoes, or to hold any intercourse with the people.

As in China, education is held in high esteem in Corea, and is ostensibly the only means of entering the Government service; but the higher class greatly neglect their own language, preferring to use, both in conversation and writing, the Chinese tongue; and even the shopkeepers employ it on their sign-boards and announcements. The result is that the once extensive literature of Corea has dwindled down to insignificant proportions, and the purity of the native language is now merely preserved by translations