Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/22

14 curved line extending from the lobe of the nose on each side is a sign of starvation.

Palmists also exist in Korea; thus the line of life in the left hand indicates long life, as it does in our palmistry; the same line in the right hand, however, indicates position. A line corresponding to our line of heart in the left hand indicates riches, while the same line in the right hand indicates power. The number of wrinkles at the base of the little finger, on the outside in the left hand indicates the number of brothers one will have, while in the right hand it indicates the number of sons to be expected. Other lines occur in the palm of the hand between the line of life and the line of heart, and these often have a fanciful resemblance to some Chinese character. A combination of these lines resembling the character for water is considered most propitious, because water is unlimited, and man can not do without it. Here the Korean chiromancer is far ahead of his Occidental brother in idiocy, for he can make out many ideograms in the fortuitous wrinkles in the center of the palm.

A familiarity with the language would undoubtedly reveal many peculiarities of expression; thus, for "Excuse me," they say "Do not blame me." "Naked truth" is called "Blood truth." Where we say "Neither hay nor grass," the Korean says "Neither calf nor colt." A house fly is called parri which means slanderer; the connection is obscure till it is explained that a fly leaves a light spot on a dark surface and a dark spot on a light surface. Among the sayings is "Rare as a white-headed crow"; in Japan it is a "horse's horn"; with us it is "hen's teeth." A mean man is one who gets his smoke by asking for a light from another man's pipe. In Japan the same expression occurs; also in Japan a mean man is one who finds his clogs in the dark by rapping his friend's head; the light emitted from such a blow is supposed to illuminate the vicinity. Our expression "The devil is always near when you are talking about him" is rendered in. Korean "Even the tiger comes"; in Japan it is said "his shadow appears." A stupid fellow in Korea is called a "pumpkin face"; in Japan, a "pumpkin fellow"; with us he is a "pumpkin head."

—Twins at a birth are not uncommon, but triplets are very rare. When the latter event occurs the Government makes a present of money to the amount of fifty dollars to the parents, besides furnishing rice for two months.

A Korean gentleman told me that when he first saw the Japanese he regarded them as savages, but was much struck with the convenience of their dress. Another informed me that his father sent him into the country to learn farming, at the same time instructing the farmer who was to have the care of him to provide only the ordinary food of the farmhouse. The young man's