146 



KOREA— THE HEUMIT NATION 



])rairies of our western territories. The tri}) from Cliemiilitbo to Seoul 

 takes an entire day, a day fraught with incident and accident from 

 start to finish. Numerous ruined forts, partly demolished walls, and 

 ])ieturesque villages lend an air of antiquit}' to the ]»ros[iect, well 

 seconded b}' the dress and character of the i)eoi)k'. 



The traveler has no definite means of transportation except those 

 furnished by nature, and called in our own countr}' " Shanks' mare." 

 The wealthier officials, it is true, have sedan chairs, l)orne by four or 



A V1LLAi;K in KHRUA — TIIK HAN lilVKK .N THE HISTANCK 



six men, but beyond this and an occasional saddle-pon}' the average 

 Korean does his traveling on foot, and it is marvelous to contemplate 

 the distances which can 1)6 covered by one of the native runners 

 when engaged on government business. 



The roads are even ])oorer than the means of traveling over them, 

 and from the writer's experience it is evident that no attention has 

 ever been given to laying out, making, or repairing roads in the 

 kingdom. The wandering bridle-paths doing dut3' for roads spread 



