452 HOUSES OP THE KOREANS. 



Perouse speaking of Quelpart, observes: "Unfortunately 

 the island belongs to a people to whom all intercourse 

 with strangers is prohibited, and who retain in slavery all 

 who have the misfortune to be wrecked on their shores. 

 Some of the Dutch sailors of the ' Sparrow-hawk/ after a 

 captivity of eighteen years, during which they had received 

 severe bastinadoes, found means to steal away a bark and 

 get to Japan, whence they reached Batavia, and at length 

 Amsterdam." He observes, moreover, "this island which 

 is known to Europeans only by the loss of the Dutch ship 

 'Sparrow-hawk' in 1635, was at that time under the do- 

 minion of the king of Korea." Mr. Gutzlaff, who visited 

 some of the islands of the Korean Archipelago, with much 

 truth makes the following regretful remark: "Walking," 

 he says, "over these fertile islands, beholding the most 

 beautiful flowers everywhere growing wild, and the vine 

 creeping among weeds and bushes, we accuse the 'lord of 

 nature,' man, of shameful neglect; for he could have 

 changed this wilderness into an Eden." 



In many parts of the Archipelago, the hamlets and 

 houses of the more wealthy members of the population 

 are delightfully situated, being frequently embosomed 

 in groves of umbrageous trees with running rivulets 

 beside them, and all around and towering up behind, 

 gently swelling hills covered with verdure, and with 

 herds of oxen grazing; and when placed near the sea-side, 

 there is generally a fishing-wear close at hand. Their 

 houses consist of a sitting-room, a sleeping- apartment, 

 and a shed used for culinary purposes, where are observed 

 large earthern vessels for holding rice and water. In 

 their towns are frequently seen rudely carved stone- 



