Page:A Forbidden Land - Voyages to the Corea (1880).djvu/153

112 do not seem to be able to give any other explantionexplanation [sic] as regards the origin of bondage than the one just mentioned; it remains a curious fact, however, that the system has been continued and maintained up to the present time, after the conclusion of these wars, when the various tribes were united under one head, and the more so as these bondsman differ in no way, either mentally or by personal appearance, from the common people.

Chinese and Japanese writings make no mention whatever of bondage, nor do they speak of the castes which divide the people of Corea.

The official religion in Corea—if indeed we may talk of religion there—is the worship of Budha, which was introduced about 872 into the country from China, and which extended itself by degrees. In point of utter disregard for their own religious ceremonies and customs the Coreans rise hardly above the level of savages; assuredly they do not occupy such a place in this respect that a people, not totally devoid of culture and civilization ought to take, and far below the Chinese and Japanese. It cannot be denied that the latter, however little religiously inclined they may be from our point of view, and however lax they may be found in most cases, in the exercise of religionsreligious [sic] ceremonies, which can but very rarely be considered to spring from the wants of a sincere mind, harbour at all events sonic feeling of piety and consideration for the keeping up of their old and long established