240 National Geographic Magazine. 
Sea (the seaport of the capital, Séul); at Fusan, to the south; and 
at Gensan, to the northeast. Stations are needed on the Yellow 
Sea coast farther to the northward, at the extreme northeast, at 
points in the interior, and especially on the island of Cheju, or 
Quelpaert, whose weather reports may some day prove as valuable 
to the Japanese as those from Bermuda would now be to the 
navigator of the western waters of the Atlantic. All the above 
mentioned places are easily accessible and doubtless soon will 
receive attention. In fact, to the navigator of these regions this 
island of Quelpaert is- almost of the importance that Hatteras is 
to the navigator of our own coast. 
As an important factor of Korea’s future prosperity, and one 
that will enter largely into the determination of her future posi- 
tion among the nations of the east, may be mentioned her 
mineral resources. These yet remain in an almost undeveloped 
condition. The most easily accessible deposits and out-croppings, 
which are worked by the natives in primitive ways, afford evi- 
dence of an abundant and varied supply of the useful ores and 
minerals widely distributed throughout the whole extent of the 
land. Many localities, moreover, are well known to the people 
for their especial products. Thus the Phyéngyang province, in 
the northwest, facing China, possesses abundant deposits of coal, 
iron, and lime. Samples of this coal, which is but little used 
by the people, were collected several years ago from twelve 
different localities, and I remember that some of the Phyéng- 
yang gatherings were tested on board the U. 8S. 8S. Alert, but 
were found to have suffered so greatly from exposure to the 
weather as to be comparatively valueless, even for experimental 
purposes. Limestone is common in this district, and in. the town 
of Phyéngyang I have noticed the use of caustic lime in the 
streets as a disinfectant. The iron produced at Yéngpydon, fifty 
miles to the northward of this city, which is reduced in the 
native way with charcoal, is remarkable for its malleability and 
purity. Inasmuch as all these deposits are of very great extent 
and lie near the sea coast, and in proximity to waters easily 
navigable by larger craft, it may be assumed as probable that 
the time will soon arrive when the iron of Korea will largely 
supply the ship-yards and machine shops of northern China. 
Silver is found in at least four localities; copper is worked in 
paying quantities in two; galena is widely distributed; and zine- 
blende has been found near the capital. Sulphur is said to occur 
