A chain of mountains, lying close to the eastern coast, extends the whole length of the country. The long western slope of this mountain chain forms the rest of Korea. Another mountain chain forms a large part of the northern boundary. There are a number of broad rivers flowing down this western slope, the Yalu and the Han being the most important.

Korea is not a land of great cities and stately temples, nor is it noted for grand scenery. For hundreds of years Korea would have nothing to do with the outside world. Its natural boundaries made it easy to carry out this policy. To prevent invasion across the Chinese boundary- the only part open to easy attack-a wide strip of territory was laid waste. The Koreans made their shores as barren and unattractive as possible, in the hope that no one would be tempted to land.

For all of these reasons, Korea has been named "The Hermit Kingdom."

In spite of such attempts at seclusion, the armies of China and Japan have invaded this land from time to time and compelled the payment of tribute by the humbled natives. But so far as commercial relations are concerned Korea remained a sealed country until 1876.

Then Japan, following Commodore Perry's example, succeeded in making a treaty which opened the Hermit Kingdom to the world. In the following year treaties with Korea were made by the United States, England, France, and Germany. The Koreans were not able to profit at once by this opportunity, because of the continued strife between China and Japan for the control of the country.

The most important ports on the eastern coast are Fusan and Gensan. For centuries the Japanese have

made their way through these two gateways into the country.

Near Gensan is Port Lazareff, which has one of the best harbors in the world. It is this port that Russia

has for a long time wished to own.

It would, indeed,

be of untold value as an outlet on the Pacific for that great empire, so destitute of seaports.

Port Lazareff could be made a powerful stronghold, and, as the harbor is open the whole year, it would be a most important station for the Russian fleet.

In the country near by are gold and coal mines. The Koreans have worked these mines to some extent; but, without machinery of any kind to assist in that work, the results have not been valuable. They manufacture their domestic and agricultural utensils. In the working of metals they excel, and it is claimed that to the Koreans the Japanese and the Chinese owe their skill in this same work. In the manufacture of porcelain, too, the Koreans have made great progress.

Seoul, the capital of Korea, is one of the great cities of the Far East. We find here none of the large temples or beautiful palaces which have attracted our attention in other Oriental cities. The city is situated in a picturesque valley. On the summit of the highest mountain, not far away, are beacon towers on which fires were formerly lighted every night to signal to the capital if all was well throughout the empire. At nightfall the natives, as well as the officers high in authority, watched the mountain tops till the flashing fires appeared. In times of danger a different number of fires were lighted, and so this message was quickly made known in Seoul.

Such messages were formerly flashed, from peak to peak, from the most remote parts of the kingdom, but

in late years the telegraph has taken the place of this custom in certain parts of the country.

In some ways this reminds us of the custom among the Swiss shepherds, high up among the Alps, sounding their good night messages on Alpine horns, and assuring one another that "all is well.”

Only a few streets in Seoul are wide enough to be dignified by the name of street. On these are to be seen crowds of people dressed in white cotton garments. Among the well-to-do people this clothing is kept fairly clean, but the same cannot be said of the laboring classes, and their custom of wearing white cotton clothing is not to be commended. It interests us to discover that the Koreans use no soap in washing these garments, and that they are dried by pounding for a long time between two blocks of wood.

The port of Seoul is Chemulpo. Its harbor is not deep enough to allow large ships to enter.

The Chinese and the Japanese are more numerous on the streets than are the native Koreans, and the greater part of the trade of Chemulpo is carried on by them.

The first railroad in Korea, soon to be built, is to run from Chemulpo to Seoul, a distance of twenty-five miles.

The famous ginseng, the plant so highly prized by the Chinese for its use in medicine, grows in great abundance in Korea. It is one of the most valuable productions of the country, and counts for a great deal in the commerce of Korea. The Chinese are willing to pay almost any price for this famous plant, so much do they depend upon it.