238 KOREA. 



was no reason to expect otherwise. The Americans 

 and French had both attempted to open communication 

 with the capital. Neither had succeeded, owing mainly 

 to the insufficiency of force ; but bad management had 

 also something to do with their failure. It was not 

 only an undignified attempt to get the thin edge of the 

 wedge entered, but it was certain to fail. However, I 

 was sent, and made for Chosan,^ where, twenty-three 

 years before, I had first touched these shores. We 

 anchored about noon, and no official coming on board, 

 landed to stretch my legs on the island, which, crossing 

 the entrance of the bay, forms the excellent harbour of 

 the above name. In less than a couple of hours I 

 returned with three pheasants, a hog-deer, one snipe, 

 and a small boar. Starting early next morning, and 

 following the coast to the south-west, about noon I 

 found we had entered a magnificent basin. The chart 

 showed nothing, neither land nor sea. Continuing a 

 southerly course, all the time in an even depth of about 

 twelve fathoms, we at last reached a sugar-loafed island, 

 which appeared to be situated at the southern end of 

 the basin. Here we anchored, about twelve miles from 

 the northern entrance of the bay. Landing immediately, 

 the peak was arrived at without molestation, and I 

 ' The Japanese call it Fu-san-ki. 



