COREA
OR CHO-SEN
THE LAND OF THE MORNING CALM
BY
A. HENRY SAVAGE-LANDOR
AUTHOR OF
"ALONE WITH THE HAIRY AINU"
With Numerous Text and Full-Page Illustrations from Drawings made by theAuthor
LONDON
WILLIAM HEINEMANN
1895
BY GRACIOUS PERMISSION
I Humbly Dedicate
THIS WORK
TO
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
PREFACE
In this book I have sought to present the reader with some dry factsabout Corea and the Coreans. I have attempted to describe the manners andcustoms of the people as accurately as possible from the impressionswhich my visit to their country left upon me, but of course I do notclaim that these personal opinions expressed are absolutely infallible.My sojourn extended over several months, and I never during all that timeneglected any opportunity of studying the natives, giving my observationsas they were made a permanent form by the aid both of pen and of brush. Iwas afforded specially favourable chances for this kind of work throughthe kind hospitality shown me by the Vice-Minister of Home Affairs andAdviser to the King, Mr. C.R. Greathouse, to whom I feel greatly indebtedfor my prolonged and delightful stay in the country, as well as for theamiable and valuable assistance which he and General Le Gendre, ForeignAdviser to His Corean Majesty, gave me in my observations and studiesamong the upper classes of Corea. I am also under great obligations toMr. Seradin Sabatin, Architect to His Majesty the King, and to Mr. Krien,German Consul at Seoul, for the kindness and hospitality with which theytreated me on my first arrival at their city.
The illustrations in this book are reproductions of sketches taken by mewhile in the country, and though, perhaps, they want much in artisticmerit, I venture to hope that they will be found characteristic.
For literary style I hope my readers will not look. I am not a literaryman, nor do I desire to profess myself such. I trust, however, that Ihave succeeded in telling my story in a simple and straightforwardmanner, for this especially was the object with which I started at theoutset.
A. HENRY SAVAGE-LANDOR.
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