KOREA. I6j 



far foiuh as Virginia-:^, being difcovered on the fliady hills and 

 vallies of that Itate, towards the end of the laft century, by do6lor 

 John Clay 1 071, The fix bidian nations call it Garangtoging^ or 

 the human thighs. The Europeans have imported a great deal 

 into China ; but it is not in the fame efteem, fays OJbeck, in which 

 the roots of the Chinefe dominions are held. The Indians of 

 America do not apply them to any ufe, but multitudes are em- 

 ployed in colle6ting them for fale to the merchants of fluebec. 

 Our phyficians depreciate the vhtues of this root fo much, that 

 not withftan ding it has found a place in our difpenfatory, yet is 

 not mentioned in the Pharmacopoeia of the London College. The 

 power of the medicine may poflibly have been exaggerated in 

 China, but I never can believe that a root fo univerfally efteemed 

 in that empire for ages can be deftitute of virtues. Father Jar- 

 toux fpeaks highly of its qualities from his own experience, and 

 on the very fpot t. To him I give full credit, but at the fame 

 time fhall obferve that the trial he made w^as from the frefli 

 roots. The experiments on which the EngliJJj phyficians founded 

 their opinion, were from dried and exhaufted fpecimens. 



Adjacent to the eaftern fide of Liau-tong is the peninfula Korea, 

 of Korea, extending from Lat. 42° 50' to Lat. 34% bounded on 

 one fide by the gulph of Pe-che-li, and the approach to it, on 

 the eaftern, by the Japaneje gulph. Japan extends the whole 

 length of the coaft, and even ftretches beyond its fouthern part. 

 Korea is of an oblong form ; about a hundred leagues in breadth ; 

 its greateft length extends a hundred and eighty. It lies between Its Situation. 

 three mighty nations, fo that the inhabitants are a mixed people, 



* Gronov. Fl. Virg. 162. f Phil. Tranf, Abrig. iv. part ii. p. 315, 



but 



