590 



REPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



Some mouuds are further protected by a wall ou three sides still fol- 

 lowing the shape of a horseshoe, and the open side is guarded by nearly 

 life-sized effigies in stone arranged in pairs on each side of a slab of 

 granite on which is carved an inscription. 



Most graves, however, have simply an upright slab of granite, rect- 

 angular in shape, bearing an inscription, and supported by a low ped- 

 estal. 



Sketch Map of Southern Korea. 

 (Places underscored show where mortuary pottery has been found.) 



Owing to the recent opening of the country and the utter impossibility 

 for a foreigner to evade the curious eyes of the natives for any length of 

 time, it was well-nigh impossible to accomplish any original investiga- 

 tions. I therefore considered myself fortunate in securing the services 

 of a young native who from time to time brought me many specimens 

 of pottery and other objects which he described as having taken from 

 the earth buried in the ancient graves near the cities of Taiku, Uru- 

 san, and Torai. Among other objects, besides pottery, were rings of 

 copper heavily gilded, parts of bronze horse-trappings, such as buckles 

 and other ornaments, and objects of stone ; the most interesting of these 

 objects were arrowheads of slate, and daggers of slate or shale with the 

 handle and blade in one piece. These latter are considerably weathered, 

 showing signs of great age, but were described as having been taken 

 from stone coffers in the graves, which would account for their almost 

 perfect state of preservation. 



