Korea

Flora and Fauna.

The plants and animals have so far been little studied. Among the indigenous trees are the Abies excelsa, Abies microsperma, Pinus sinensis, Pinus pines, three species of oak, five of maple, lime, birch, juniper, mountain ash, walnut, Spanish chestnut, hazel, willow, hornbeam, hawthorn, plum, pear, peach, Rhus vernicifera (?), Rhus semipinnata, Acanthopanax ri cinifolia, Zelkawa, Thuja orientalis, Elaeagnus, Sophora Japonica, etc. Azaleas and rhododendrons are widely distributed, as well as other flowering shrubs and creepers, Ampelopsis V eitchii being universal. Liliaceous plants and cruciferae are numerous. The persimmon attains perfection, and experiment has proved the suit ability of the climate to many foreign fruits. The indigenous economic plants are few, and are of no commercial value, except ing wild ginseng, bamboo, which is applied to countless uses, and "tak-pul" (Hibiscus Manihot), used in the manufacture of paper.

The tiger takes the first place among wild animals. Leopards are numerous, and have even been shot within the walls of Seoul. There are deer (at least five species), boars, bears, antelopes, beavers, otters, badgers, tiger-cats, marten, an inferior sable, striped squirrels, etc. Among birds there are black eagles, pere grines (largely used in hawking), and, specially protected by law, turkey bustards, three varieties of pheasants, swans, geese, com mon and spectacled teal, mallards, mandarin ducks, white and pink ibis, cranes, storks, egrets, herons, curlews, pigeons, doves, nightjars, common and blue magpies, rooks, crows, orioles, hal cyon and blue kingfishers, jays, nut-hatches, redstarts, snipe, grey shrikes, hawks, kites, etc.

Area and Population.

The estimated area is 86,000 sq.m., including islands. The first complete census was taken in 1897, and returned the population in round numbers at 17,000,00o, fe males being in the majority. On October 1st, 1930 the population was 21,058,305 and of the foreign population the greater number is Chinese (67,794), although the Japanese government is doing its utmost to encourage the immigration of its subjects. The native population is absolutely homogeneous, and there is little emigra tion. Northern Korea, with its severe climate, is thinly peopled, while the rich and warm provinces of the south and west are populous. A large majority of the people are engaged in agriculture_ The capital is the inland city of Seoul, with a population of Phyong-yang, a city on the Tai-dong, was nearly de stroyed in the war of 1894, but it fast regained its population, (1930), 140,703. It has five coal-mines within ten miles, and the district is rich in iron, silk, cotton and grain. It has easy com munication with the sea (its port being Chin-nampo), and is im portant historically and commercially. Auriferous quartz is worked by a foreign company in its neighbourhood. Near the city is the

illustrated standard of land measurement cut by Ki-tze in B.C., on rocks above the river bank. The provincial capitals and many other cities are walled, and most of the larger towns are in the warm and fertile southern provinces. The actual antiquities of Korea are dolmens, sepulchral pottery and Korean and Japa nese fortifications.

Race.—The origin of the Korean people is unknown. They are presumed to be of the Mongol family; their language is accredited to the so-called Turanian group, is polysyllabic, possesses an al phabet of II vowels and 14 consonants, and a script named Literature of the higher class and official and upper class correspondence are exclusively in Chinese characters, but since 1895 official documents have been written in "mixed script." The Koreans are distinct from both Chinese and Japanese in physi ognomy, though dark straight hair, dark oblique eyes and a tinge of bronze in the skin are always present. The cheek-bones are high; the nose inclined to flatness; the mouth thin-lipped and refined among patricians, and wide and full-lipped among ple beians; the ears are small, and the brow fairly well developed. The male height averages 5 ft. 41 in. The hands and feet are small and well-formed. The physique is good, and men marry at from 18 to 20 years, girls at 16, and have large families. Women are secluded and occupy a very inferior position. The Koreans are rigid monogamists, but concubinage has a recognized status.

Production and Industries.

In Hwang-hai Do and else where, coal is found but the industry needs development. In Phyong-an Do iron is found in abundance and rich copper ore, silver and galena are common. Crystal is a noted product of Korea, and talc of good quality is also present. The foreign con cessionnaires regard Korean labour as docile and intelligent. The privilege of owning mines in Korea was extended to aliens under the Mining Regulations of 1906, and the gold output for 1926 was valued at £748,581.

Korea is mainly agricultural. At the beginning of 1927 the cul tivated area was nearly 12,000, 00o acres : the chief crops being, rice, barley, wheat, beans and grain of all kinds. In 1927 the yield of rice was 84,998,445 bush els, and in the previous year over 200,000,000 lb. of cotton were produced. Good land produces two crops per year. Apples, pears, persimmons and mandarin oranges flourish. The coast en gages in whale-fishing, and silk worm rearing is a profitable in dustry. The fishing industry is being developed, the value of the catch in 1926 being over isoo,000. There are provincial horse-breeding stations, where pony stallions, from I o to 12 hands high, are bred for carrying burdens. Magnificent red bulls are bred by the farmers for ploughing and other farming operations, and for the transport of goods.