JOURNEYS THROUGH KOREA. 143 



As to climate '\ the island has the same latitude as tliat c^mate 

 of nortliern Kyûshû, and is conseqnentl}^ warmer than the south 

 coast of the mainland. Its flora '^ bears the stamp of a southern 

 climate. Being situated at the divide of three waters, the Yellow 

 Sea, tlie China Sea, and the sea of the southern archipelago, the 

 island is exposed to a branch current of the Jmroshiwo which 

 again divides, one arm reaching along the west coast of Korea, 

 the other toward the Strait of Tsushima. The surroundino; sea 

 is stormy and tlie air moist, the current swift (2 knots), and the 

 tidal difference great. The top of IM-la-san is usually covered 

 with a veil of cloud, and unless it lifts people dare not go 

 off shore for fear of the mountain spirit becoming angry ; the 

 legends of the island folk are therefore more or less connected 

 with this spirit. Especially during June and July the island is often 

 swept by great storms of wind and rain. The islets of U-do^^ 

 on the east and Chyiik-do ^^ on the opposite side afford poor shelter ; 

 in early days the latter was mostly freq[uented by Japanese 

 freebooters. The former or " Ox Island " is the grazing ground 

 for this class of domestic animals. In former times people went 

 there in winter and retui'ned in summer owing to the frequent 

 heavy storms. 



1) It is stated (' Tamliisi '^ that the people of the island enjoy longevity due to the 

 congenially warm climate and the north side is more healthy than the sonth, owing to the 

 cool northerly wind. 



2) A small collection of plants numbering about a hundred spacies was brought home 

 by ,1 Japanese assistant of Mr. Anderson, an American zjologist, who lately visited the island ; 

 and Messrs. 'I'akeda and Nakai undertook the specific determination of the plants of that 

 collection in which mosses and lichens are not included. The result of ennmar.itioa shows 

 that the Quelpartian flora resembles more closely that of Japan tha-i that of Ktirea ; 02% oz 

 the species occur in Japan and only 5S% in Korea and China. Twenty-seven or 43^^ of the 

 collection are new to the flora of Korea of which 25 sp3eies are known in J.ipan. Farther ra" 

 searches will throw much light on the interesting relation bet wean tha Ajra« of Jap in and 

 Korea. " Plant;e ex insula Tschedschu." Bot. Mag., Tokyo, XXIII. No. 263, 19.19 . 



3) 4î ê 4> tî ^ " Bamboo Island ". 



