A FORBIDDEN LAND.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 144, 6 August 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

A FORBIDDEN LAND.

(By Ernest Oppert.)

The strange region of which Mr Oppert treats, though only within a day’s steam of the nearest Chinese coast, has long remained “ a forbidden land,” where the foreigner runs the risk of paying with his life for the hardihood of his attempt to uenfctrate it. Placed though G>rea. is between two large empires like China and Japan, it is strange that it should have been able to maintain its policy of exclusion, not only against the stranger and the European, but also against these powerful neighbours. Centuries ago China had a hold upon Corea, as she had upon Biirmah, Siam, and Cochin-China—a hold which ought to have been confirmed by the assistance which she gave in diiving out the Japanese ; but now the old treaty siipulaj turns aie not enforced, amt Corea i* only subject to an independent king- whose rule is absolute. That rule is, however, at present exercised by a Regent, whose despiotic power is specially jealous of foreign interference : THE REGENT AND IflS RELICS. The Jlegent, a person of very superstitious disposition, laid great store upon the possession of some old relics, which had been in lii3 family for long years, and which were kept and guarded in a secluded place belonging to him. The possession of these relics was thought to ensure the fortune of himself and family, and they were accordingly much treasured and looked upon with a kind of superstitious awe. Although very little had been known of him personally previous to the adoption of his son by the Queen Dowager this circumstance soon became known after he had usurped the supreme power and had made himself Jlegent. Upon this circumstance the Coreans had based their project. They averred that the temporary possession of these objects would be tantamount to investing their holders with an almost absolute power, and equivalent to having possession of the capntal itself; that the .Regent would only be too glad to accede to anything to ( have them restored to him, and that he would be compielled to listen to the terms to 1 be piroprosedjto him, viz, to open the country by concluding a treaty, and even to send an ) embassy to the different Dowers in proof of j his desire to do so. ,

After a long forced march under the burning sun the party reached the foot of a stoop hill with a deep ravine on both sides, Hanked by high mountains, splendidly 7 wooded. This was tlie spot were the relics were placed, but instead of a stone house, a walled-in place, strongly protected by an earthwork all round, offered an almost insuperable obstacle. They were not provided with tools for the purpose, but when they had laid the work bare they 7 found a huge stone block litted into the opening where they expected to find tlie door. As it would have taken live or six hours to remove this obstacle, and they 7 had already been absent twelve hours beyond their allotted time, Mr Oppert was compelled to abandon his attempt and unwillingly return to his vessel. Mr Oppert has not had very much personal experience of the inhabitants of the forbidden land, but he collected a good deal of information relating to their manners and customs, of which he gives, on tlie whole, a favorable view.

THE WOMEN OF COREA. The women have to remain in the apartments set specially apart for their use, and those ofj the higher classes are even more isolated here than in China; a little more liberty is allowed them in the country, where a piortion of the labour in the holds falls to their share, but although they can move about there somewhat more at their ease, they arc still much more restricted than the female country population in China, In cities and small townships, it is, however, considered a gieat offence against modest) and custom, whenever a woman is met in the public streets in the daytime, and they quit their apartments hardiy ever during the day. To indemnify them for this strictly kept up) seclusion, the following remarkable arrangement has been made. At nine o’clock in the evening during summer, and at an earlier hour in winter time, tho city gates of Saoul and ether towns are closed at a given signa l , As soon as this has taken place all men are bound to leave the streets, and these are abandoned to the women for the purposes of recreation and promenading. Any male finding himself by accident belated and behind the appointed time in the streets, is sure to hurry to his house as fast as possible without Jookiug up* or regarding anything about him, and severe punishment would fall upon any pierson daring in the face of the stringi-nt prohibition to molest women in the least. Good breeding demands from any man (and this is always done) to cover his face, with a fan, as soon as he encounters ladies walking during these hours, so that he ma) not be recognised, and to walk over to the other side of the street so as not to disturber terrify them. !