4-Q2 The National Geographic Magazine 



perintending, in the survey of the Island 

 of Yesso, all the field operations that 

 underlie a scientific survey of large ex- 

 tent, including astronomy, triangula- 

 tion, topography, and hydrography. It 

 will be a source of congratulation to 

 Americans to know that among the stu- 

 dents that were trained by Day appear 

 the names of some of the engineers upon 

 whom Japan has relied in the past gen- 

 eration to take a leading part in carry- 

 ing forward the magnificent geograph- 

 ical work that has now been accom- 

 plished in that empire. 



Thus it might be said, as a sequel 

 to the vast commercial and political 

 advantages accruing to the civilized 

 nations of the globe from the wise ad- 

 ministration of Commodore Perry, an 

 additional claim may be made in behalf 

 of the Navy of the United States for 

 the further development of Japan as a 

 civilized nation resulting from Lieuten- 

 ant Day's work. 



In a like manner, as a sequel to the 

 work of the United States North Pacific 

 Surveying Expedition, the last chief of 

 which was Commander John Rodgers, 

 U. S. N., reference might be made to 

 the surveys and explorations in China 

 and Korea which took place under that 

 officer while he was a rear admiral in 

 command of the U. S. fleet on the 

 Asiatic station in the years 1 870-1 873. 



Rodgers, who, like his uncle, Commo- 

 dore Perry, was a man of advanced 

 ideas, was particularly interested in 

 bringing into the civilized community 

 of the world the then hermit nation of 

 Korea. With the five vessels of his 

 squadron he anchored off the Ferrieres 

 Islands, on the Korean coast, on the 19th 

 of May , 1 87 1 , all hands full of high hope 

 that at last this unknown country was to 

 be opened to us, and through us to the 

 people of the globe. But, though balked 

 in his attempt to penetrate the fortified 

 barrier surrounding Korea, Rodgers 

 kept his officers and men busy in mak- 

 ing surveys of such parts of the coast as 



could be reached, and the expedition 

 brought back its share of glory and a 

 considerable amount of data of a geo- 

 graphical character. Not only here, but 

 in China also, did he keep his command 

 occupied, and several surveys were made 

 in the Yangtse River and elsewhere. 



OBSERVATIONS UPON THE KOREAN 

 COASTS AND SIBERIA 



It was left to a brother officer of Ad- 

 miral Rodgers, the late Rear Admiral 

 R. S. Shufeldt, U. S. N., to accomplish 

 what, but for the former's unfortunate 

 conflict at arms with the Koreans, must 

 have resulted in success, namely, to 

 give to this hermit nation the bless- 

 ings of civilization by inducing them to 

 open their ports to the commerce of the 

 world. 



While many other nations besides the 

 United States were enabled at the same 

 time to make satisfactory treaties with 

 the King of Korea, yet to Commo- 

 dore Shufeldt, who, when in command 

 of the U. S. ship Swatara, visited his 

 capital and there took the initial steps 

 toward swinging open the gates of the 

 the country to the world, credit must 

 be awarded for its accomplishment. 



Immediately after the then Commo- 

 dore Shufeldt had completed the treaty 

 negotiations with the Korean Govern- 

 ment at Inchon, on the west coast of 

 Korea, three young officers — Lieutenant 

 B. H. Buckingham, Ensigns George C. 

 Foulk and Walter McLean — proceeded 

 from Japan to the United States via Ko- 

 rea and Siberia for the purpose of study- 

 ing the countries passed through. Their 

 report is made up of over 160 pages of 

 printed matter and is full of geograph- 

 ical and other information which at that 

 time was greatly needed. 



ARCTIC DISCOVERERS 



The attempt to discover the North- 

 west Passage — the great geographical 

 problem of the age in the early half of 

 the nineteenth century — having allured 



