Page:History of Corea, ancient and modern; with description of manners and customs, language and geography (1879).djvu/393

 LAwa 363 wrangling and disputing, which ended in many communications from and to the Corean government, which ordered Tien to be brought in custody to his native home, where he was sentenced to three years transportation for overstaying his passport leave. He, however, got his younger brother to take his place, and fled back into China till his term should expire. It was then he related to me his story, which is curious if true. The C!oreans are extremely fond of the strongest spirits, and invariably get drunk on the strong whisky of northern China, when they can get it They themselves make a strong spirit of rice, on which they often get drunk. The government levies a malt tax on it But in the year 1876, when there was only the third of a perfect crop, distillation and the sale of spirits were strictly forbidden in Corea under severe penalties. This is always done when grain is scarce. As in the one city of Aichow alone, over 1500 families were supported by the sale of intoxicants, it is not wonderful that some sold in spite of law, and got banished. Beating on the shank with a heavy stick is a very common mode of punishment ; which is said to end in immediate death, if a badly aimed blow comes down just below the knee cap, — the result of awkwardness on the lictor's part. A murderer is tied down on a piece of wood, and beaten to death ; the thief is punished in the same way: hence theft is unknown where the magistrate is known to enforce the law. The gambler, and the man unable or unwilling to pay his debts, are also beaten; sometimes on the shank, and to death. The man known to be an opium smoker is beheaded ; yet we have seen many slaves to the bewitching and pernicious drug. The opium flower was grown in Corea, on account of its "beauty," long before it was known to contain the seductive " smoke ; " though the juice and plant were used long ago in the apothecaries' shop to relieve pain, and veiy much as opium is now employed in modem* medicine. The Coreans, indeed, seem to have used it before we did in the west We hope foreign cannon will never open a way for opium into Corea ; after which we would be told, as we