PEN PICTURE OE THE INTERESTING HERMIT KINGDOM OE COREA Inhabitants Resemble Japan- ese More Than Chinese, but

Are Larger Than Either.

DRESS INWHITE COTTON

In Upper and Lettered Classes and

in Government Documents

Chinese Is Used.

THE ARISTOCRATS ARE POLITE

Humble Coreans Are Social Among Them-

selves, Vivacious and Talkative-

Glimpse at the Trades.

COREA Is a peninsula projecting

from the eastern coast of Asia In a southeasterly direction. Its boundaries are all natural, consist- ing of the Japan Bea on the east, the Yellow Sea on the west, the Corean Strait on the south and two

rivers on the north—the Yalu or Amnok, which empties Into the Yellow Sea, and the Tumen, which empties Into the Sea of Japan.

The northern boundary divides Corea from Russia In Asia on the northeast, and from the Chinese provinces of Manchuria and Shing King on the northwest. Corea extends from north latitude 34 degrees to north latitude 43 degrees, a distance rf SO miles. As compared with our Atlantic coast line. It would extend from Portland, Me., to Wilmington, N. C., saya the American Educational Bulletin.

The average breadth of the peninsula Is about 160 miles, and the full coast line ex- tends about 1,700 miles. It Is, therefore, more than one-third larger than all the New England States, or about the same else as Minnesota or Great Britain. Its area Is about 34,000 square miles and the population some 11,000,000.

PRONUNCIATION OF NAMES. In the map the system established by

Dr. El Satow should bfc followed In the pronunciation of names. The vowels are In general pronounced as In Italian, the consonants as In English, however, with the following exceptions:—at equals the English a In hat, hare; e the French acute • : eu Is a sound Blmllar to the English ■‘neutral” vowel; o equals the French eu, as In monsieur, but frequently much shorter.

The Coreans make In writing no distinc- tion between long or short vowels, and there exists a great difference In the pro- nunciation of vowels with different per- sons as well as one and the same person. Thus myon often sounds like men, kyong like ken; pyon, pen; seung, sing; cheup, chip; seul, sll; swa, sa; hyok, hoik, Ac.; kh, ph, th. chh. are to be pronounced separately, as k-h, p-h. t-h, ch-h, as In the English words lnk-hom, top-heavy, pot- hunter, watch-house, Ac. Just so with kk, pp. ss; each consonant is to be pronounced separately; nn sound n; s before 1 often comes near sh.

Physical Features.—There Is a marked difference between the eastern and west- ern coasts. The eastern coast ie bordered by a long mountain ridge, presenting a

high and unbroken wall with but few in- dentations or harbors. The western coast, which Is washed by the Yellow Sea of China. Is shielded by an archipelago of Islands, between which are shallow and tortuous Inlets, either filled or drained by a

tide that rises from twenty-flve to forty feet, and which are frequently frozen over In winter.

The more northern of the Islands are low and flat, while the southern ones are high and precipitous. The cliffs of many of these southern Islands are both weird and fan- tastic In shape. One of them resembles in form the towers of Windsor Castle, an- other the crumbling ruins of a monastery.

Tbs more prominent physical feature of Corea Is the mountain range, which con- stitutes the backbone of the peninsula and extends through Its whole length, from the Tumen River to the Yellow Sea! the large Islands on the southwest being but emerging fragments of the same range. From these Corean Apennines numerous ribs or spurs extend In every direction, enclosing many pleasant valleys and river basins to their devious windings.

COMPLETE ISOLATION OF COREA. Another great mountain chain runs

transversely across the peninsula along the northern frontier, thus, by a natural wall, completing the Isolation of Corea. The rivers of Corea, while numerous, are comparatively unimportant Five only are navigable, vis., the Yalu In the north, the Ta-Tong or Pyong-yang, the Han and its tributary, the Im-Jin-kang and tbs Nak- tong.

The longest river within the peninsula Is the Nakteng. which flows southward be- tween mountain ranges and empties Into a bay opening Into the Corean Strait The largest riser, and commercially the most Important Is the Han, which, draining nearly the whole breadth of the peninsula, empties Into the Yellow Bea. Besides these, eight other broad streams, after en- riching the valleys at western Corea, empty into the same sea.

Climate.—The general climate of Corea closely resembles that of the North Atlan- tic coast of the United States, the ex-1 tremes, however, being more marked and | Intense. It W at times very hot during the summer months, the temperature ranging from 33 degrees to 100 degrees to the shade. The winters are severe, the mercury being often below xero. The Tumen River, on the northern boundary, is usually frozen five months of the year, while to winter deep snows cover the mountalna

From the end of January until June It Is spring. During the summer months there are heavy ralnfalla By the end of November winter begina. In the summer months danse fogs prevail, and to spring and autumn there Is much mirage.

Inhabitants.—Th# Coreans undoubtedly belong to the Mongolian race, occupying an Intermediate stage between the Mon- golian Tartars and the Japanese. They are

plainly distlugulshatye from either the Chinese or the Japanese. Their language Is of the Turanian family, with tho addition of many Chinese and some Japanese words.

From this arise the different names

(noticeable on maps of Corea) applied to the same locality or physical feature, one

being in Japanese, another In Chinese and still another to the Corean language. The Chinese language Is used by the upper and lettered classes and also by the govern- ment In all official communications.

RESEMBLE THE JAPANESE. In physical appearance the Coreans re-

semble the Japanese more than the Chi- nese, though, on the average, taller and stouter than either. Their dress Is almost uniformly of white cotton cloth, which In whiter Is well padded. The outer badge of the official classes Is the bat, which Is of striking amplitude. The bouses of the Coreans are usually rude, thatobed, mud wattled struct urea. They are generally warmed by flues running beneath the (loom. The women's apartments are se-

cluded with Intense Jealousy. As Individuals they possess many at-

tractive characteristics, the upper classes being polite, cultivated and priding them- selves on correct deportment, while the lower classes are very social among them- ■elves, vivacious and talkative. In their habits they am neither Industrious nor cleanly, and, though surrounded by abun- dant natural resources, Hva In s depth of squalor unknown In civilized lands.

Political Subdivisions and Cities—For r administrative purposes, Corea la divided

Into eight provinces, via., Ham-gyong. Kang-wan, Kyong-aang. Plng-an. Hwang- hal, Klong-kwt, Chung-ehong and Chol-ra. Tha first three provinces named are

situated on the east coast fronting the

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hy6n Hill. U yorty.chhon* Riven

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oik.se • Buddhist Chepal. IJ ettny Port; ten tfiy fortified Hill. |J tyuny.nyuny* Coeit fortification, M

Chfurdo (Hook/ Station) If

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Japanese Campaign in Corea

During Recent War with China Conducted with

Great Difficulty. ROADS WERE VERY BAD

Average Daily March on Way to Ping- Yang Was Not More Than

Six Miles.

CAPTURE OF STRONGHOLD

Considering the Nature of Country and Un. friendliness of Inhabitants, Japanese

Campaign Was Not Slow. ---—--

Japan Sea, while all the other* are sltu-

fi!e<v-0o th® western slope and border on the lellow Sea. In the central province of Iviong-Uw! Is located the Seoul or capital of the kingdom. It Is situated about twen-

jty-elx miles Inland from the west coast, and about three miles from the Han hlver. The city Is located In a picturesque 'alley, between the high hllte.

On the south Is a notable height called rmn-san, on the summit of which are four neacon towers, from which, by means of

siknnls, messages are transmitted other Similar towers on high mountain peaks, and thus to the most distant prov- mces of the kingdom Like all other large

h Cor*0' 11 walled, and the gates, eight In number, are opened at aunrlae and closed at sunset.

POPULATION OP THE CAPITAL. Within the walls of the city is a popula- tion of about 260.000. The housee are gen- erally rude mud thatched structure*, a part of each being used as a shop or for business purposes. These are eo crowded

together us to narrow the thoroughfare* Into mere lanes or alley*, there being but three streets In the city deserving lb* na me.

ni»l!!i”5llc buildings are few and lnelg- nmcant. but as usual'ln Eastern capitals, there are a large number of royal palace* and temples, whlah are surrounded by ex- Parklike grounds. The buildings and grounds of the foreign legations ar* conspicuous features In the centre of the

„,indu'trl®8 nnd Production*.—Notwlth- fnnd »of°r<,a h"S TBBt trncU of vlr«ln

,w tb a B°H of more than ordinary tertinty, and an invigorating climate. It Is a poor agricultural country, though rich In possibilities, nice, beans and barley Bf® u8hiPll,nclpaI c®r®Bl® grown. Corean rice Is highly esteemed In Japan, and when Its export Is prohibited the Japanese are mucn Incensed.

Ginseng Is one of the principal produe- lona and is exported in large quantities to China Corea also supplies great quan- tities of beef and fish to Japan. Paper Is ills most remarkable native manufacture. It Is used instead of carpets on the

floors. Instead of paint on the walls, in- stead of glass In the windows, and Instead of whitewash on the ceilings. Clothes, hats, shoes, umbrellas, lanterns, fans, and kites ure made of It

(^OREAN CAMPAIGN IN ^ CHINA-JAPAN WAR

In the wnr between China and Japan hostilities opened on July 25, 1894. with the sinking of the Chinese transport by the Mantwa Kan, a Japanese cruiser, oft the Island of Phungdo, near Chemulpo.

That same day a force of 5,000 Japanese troops set out from Seoul to attack the Chinese Intrenched position at Asun. The distance was sixty-seven miles. On the 30th Asan was captured, and on August 4 the conquerors re-entered Seoul. Three days later the van of a column destined to drive the Chinese from their strong- hold at Ping-Yang. 140 miles distant, marched out of Seoul.

Corea was wholly without railways and almost without roads. It It broken every- where by mountains and Intersected by streams, the passage of which presents

j great obstacles to an army. The Japanese i force, some 15,000 strong, found that Us average dally rate of progress northward

I did not excesd six miles. This being the rate of advance, the van

had been pushed some ninety miles from ■Seoul when It was decided that a change lot military plan must be made. The Chi- nese, assembling In great force at Ping- Yang, threatened Oensan on the opposite coast. At Oensan there Is an Important Japanese colony, and from Oensan a trunk road leads southward to Seotil.

A force of ten thousand men was ac- cordingly transported thither by sea. with Instructions to move westward again at Ping-Yang, synchronising its advance and attack with those of the army from Seoul.

The dispositions made by the Chinese for the defence of Ping-Yang were of a much more skilful character than those at Asan. Every commanding situation outside the walls of the town was strongly Intrenched, and batteries were placed wherever guns could be used with effect.

These positions were stormed, one after another, by the various Japanese columns, and at two P. M. on September If the Chinese on every face had been driven with heavy loss Into the city. The best stand seems to have been made by the troops under Genera) Yeh. to whom was Intrusted the duty of guarding the south-

[ern iron.

At no other point, however, did th* Japanese experience any serious rebuff.

Next comes the great naval battle of th« Yalu River, In which Japan's fleet of cruisers vanquished the ponderous lron- clads of the Celestial Umpire. The whole world was forced to applaud. --

Japans northward march Into Man- *

jchurla now continued. Town after town fell Into Its hands, until at lost tho many successive victories were crowned by the

i capture of Port Arthur. Here, for the first time In history, a

navy and army acted In perfect consort and worked together with the precision and regularity of clockwork. Japan alao proved the Inestimable service that oould be obtained from her swift llttl# torpedo boats. These little vessels danced In and

lout, right under the gaping mouths of the

j huge cannon of the Chinese forta, and did iuntold damage to the enemy. Port Arthur fell, and the event was scarcely realized by the world before Japan had taken pos- session of the forts and docks, drawn

| up some of her ships for repair, and was

apparently as much at home in this late [stronghold of China as though It had been [her home for years.

The Yellow Sea was now practically 1 ruled by Japan, with the exception of one

Important point, the great fortified naval station of Wei-Hal-Wet.

After some daring torpedo boat work the place was Invested by land and aea

and shortly surrendered. The victorious Japanese proceeded to

Invade China proper at N’tu-Chwang and

along the line to Shanhal-Kwan. Russia Intervened, however, and. Joined

by Oefmany and France, halted the vic-

torious legions of the Mikado at a time when nothing stood between them and Pekin.

Negotiations for peace were carried on at Shlmorosekl. end the attack of a

Japanese fanatic on the venerable Chinese statesman. 1.1 Hung Chang, aroused sym-

! pathy which helped to modify Japan's de- mands. All that the Japanese received j was a money Indemnity. ! a large portion of that Indemnity was i expended for the great ships which now I thunder at the sea gates of Port Arthur.