THE KOREANS. 169 



The intercourfe to the north, is the moft dreaded by the Russians. 

 Cl'inefe. The Ruffians have made great advances on that fide, 

 and had formed fettlements on the Amur, which runs through 

 the northern part of the empire. This brought on more than 

 one war. The Koreans are faid either to navigate the river 

 Songor, or the Scbingal, till they arrive in the Amur ; or to fail 

 along the coaft, and proceed directly up its mouth, and trade 

 either with the fabje6ls of Ruffia, or poflibly with the RuJJians 

 themfelves. All the intervening track from Korea is afFe(fl:edly 

 given wrong by the Chinefe, in order to keep both their own 

 fubje<£ts and thofe of Rujjla in ignorance; but in vain; the 

 Koreans are a match for them in cunning. They pretend in 

 their voyage up the Amur that they come from fome diftant 

 ifle. Yjbrande Ides informs us of this, but without knowing 

 that they impofed on him. They trade even with the Manchew 

 tartars, fubjedls of the emperor; but thefe people, for gains fake, 

 content themfelves with the deception. From them, and from 

 the Ruffians, or Ruffian fubjecls, they procure the quantities 

 of furs which they pretend are the produce of their own 

 country. 



The Koreans, having their country three parts furrounded 

 by the fea, mufl naturally be a naval people; they trade com- 

 monly with Japan, and obtain the articles of commerce of ' 

 thofe iilands. Th.Q Jap an efe\i-xwQ ceded the little intermediate With Japan. 

 ifle of Sujima, the Tuitatao of the Koreans, on purpofe to facilitate 

 the trade. 



By the pretence of failing to the ifland of 'Huel-praet, feated 

 to the fouth of the peninfula, to take in the Cbinefe manufacture 



Vol. III. Z , from 



