Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/653

* KOREA. 591 KOREA. zard. The native horse is no bigger than a Shetland pony, while the ox is of immense size. Geology a>d Mi.neh.vl Ke.soleces. Little is known of the geoluyy of the couutrj'. In general it may be stated that overlying the fundamental rocks — gneiss, crystalline and other schists, crys- talline limestone, quartzite, etc. — are found strata of Cambrian and Carboniferous age, the rejjositories of the metallic ores of the country. The prevailing rocks are sandstone, slate, lime- stone, hornstoue, and conglomerates, and among the intrusive eruptive rocks, granite, porphyries, gabbro, diorite, diabase, etc., best exemplified in the Phyungan provinces, ilesozoic rocks are found in the Province of Hwang-hai, and the Tertiary formations, which are of little e.- tent, but which c<jntain considerable lignitic coal, in the hill country around Piiig-yaug and in the Hani-g^eng provinces. Basaltic lavas forming table lands occur in several places, but the best example is in the Province of Kang-wiJn. Gold has long been obtained from the sands of the northern rivers, but it is only in recent years that the exploitation of the auriferous rocks has begun. Concessions have been obtained by capitalists from the United States, Russia, Germany, and Great Britain, and gold-mining is now carried on in the provinces of Kang-wOn, Phyong-an. and Ham-gyeng. The property of the L'nited States concessionaires at Wijn-san covers 800 square miles. Five mines have been opened there, and five mills, with two hundred stamps, are in operation. The placer mining of the Germans was carried on in 1901 by 9 Euro- peans, 6 Chinese, 7 Japanese, and 275 Koreans. The value of the gold exported in that year was $2,237,089. Copper is abundant, and has long been worked. Of the output in 1900, copper to the value of .$50,000 was exported. Galena is also found, and there are iron ores of many kinds, but little has been done in working them. Good anthracite coal has been found, and coal is mined near Ping-yang. Fisheries. The seas surrounding the penin- sula teem with fish, and support an important industry. The chief fish are the salmon, cod, the delicate, nuich-esteemed tai, haddock, hali- but, whiting, ribbon-fish, herrings, sardines, etc. Sharks abound on the coast, and in the Sea of Japan blackfish and whales are plentiful. Whale- fishing is carried on by one Japanese and two Russian companies, with Government charters. Whale-meat is an article of food, and is ex- posed in the markets for sale. AGRicvLTrRE. The soil of Korea is very fer- tile, especially in the southern and southwestern jirovinces. and farmint; is the principal occupa- tion of the people. Rice is the most valuable crop. The yield is usually large. Periods of drought, however, are frequent, and scant rain- fall brings famine. The other agricultural prod- ucts are barley, millet, and oats in the north, and in the south wheat, maize, beans, tobacco, cotton, hemp, and sesame. Rice, beans, and ginseng are the principal exports. Sweet potatoes, the taro, cabbages, turnips, and other vegetables are also grown extensively, and form, with rice and the hardier grains, the chief articles of diet. Milk, butter, and cheese are practically imknown to the natives, and until recent years no attention was given to cattle-raising, though there is much land suitable for pasture. The increased con- sumption of meat in .Tapan has stimulated cattle- breeding somewhat, and in 1901 the export of cattle and other live stock nearly doubled. Ma.xufactuees. Korea is not a manufactur- ing countrj'. It was through Korea that the arts and sciences of China passed on to .lajjan ; but there is little now to show that Japan's skilled artisans, potters, and porcelain artists came from Korea. Paper-making is the chief industry. Then come mat-weaving, the making of copper and brass ware, nacre-inlaid woodwork, and split bamboo screens, and hats for native use, the splits of which are as fine as thread. Some coarse silk is woven for home use, and the weav- ing of the white cotton fabric which the common people wear is a general home industry. The first modern industrial establishment — a match- factory — was opened at Seoul in 1901. CoMXiixiCATiox. Road-making has received no attention in Korea, and travelers are unani- mous in denouncing the highways. The Koreans travel chiefly on horseback or in .sedan chair.s. Commodities are transported by porters, pack- horses, and oxen. Wheeled vehicles are unknown except in the open ports. The rivers, however, are much used. (See Topoyiaphi/.) The first railway of tlie country extends from Chemulpo to Seoul, a distance of 26 miles, and in 1901 carried 354,623 passengers, and 28.97.5 tons of merchandise. A long line from Fusan in tho south to Seoul (287 miles) is now in course of construction, and another is being constructed from Seoul to Wiju, at the mouth of the Yalu (350 miles). At the end of 1901 the telegraph mileage was 2170 miles, and the number of of- fices 27. A postal system has been organized, and Korea is a member of the Postal l"nion. In 1900 953,075 postage stamps of the ordinary de- nominations were issued. Seoul has an electrical railway which extends nine miles into the country., Commerce. Until the opening of the treaty ports Korean trade was almost exclusively with China, and carried on chiefly at the Korean Ciate in Manchuria, where the trilnite-bearing mission to Peking passed through Funghwang Ch'ing. The eight seaports now open are Che- mulpo (or Inchon), Fusan, Wimsan (better known by its Japanese name. Gensan) , Chinampo, ^lokp'o, Kunsan. JIasampo. and Song-chin, and there is a Russian trading centre at Kyiing- (or Kyeng) heung in latitude 42° 4' X.. and longi- tvide 128° 14' E. The most important of the treaty ports is Chemulpo, situated on the western coast 26 miles by rail from Seoul. It is ra])idly increasing in importance, and has steam coiuiec- tion with Japan. Shanghai, and Vladivostock. The inland city of Ping-yang is also considered open. The total value of the trade of the open ports amounted in 1900 to $10,185,824; made up of imports .?5,484,770, and exports .?4.- 701,054, not including gold. .$1,816,500. In 1901 the total value of the trade was $14,019,581, in- cluding the export of gold $2,486,689. and the importaticm of 10,903,200 pounds of rice (on accoiint of the famine in that year). The chief imports are piece goods (chiefly for -Tapanese use), kerosene, almost entirely from the United States (12,463,631 gallons)." tobacco (chiefly cigarettes), metals, railway plant, etc. The chief exports are rice (none in 1901). beans, cowhides, ginseng ($770,869 in 1900). copper, gold, cattle and live stock, sea -slugs, nut-galls, whaleflesh and blubber, dried fish, and tallow.