xxxii 
INTEODUCTION. 
of the sea the ground is hilly and covered with very low scrub, mostly dwarf- 
oak, seldom exceeding a foot in height and with enormous leaves, azaleas, 
ferns, chiefly bracken and osmunda, the latter very small, and wild briars ; 
the most conspicuous flowers were tiger-lilies, irises, and spiraeas, all very 
abundant : here and there a sheltered ravine was met with, containing a 
few trees and with a stream running through it ; these spots were a perfect 
paradise to a collector. The reason of the bareness of the coast-hills is 
owing to the fact that the natives cut the scrub for fuel every autumn. At a 
distance of about fifteen miles from the sea are mountains, which attain a 
height of four to five thousand feet, and are densely wooded almost to their 
summits, some of the timber being very fine. From the summit of So-ko-san, 
the highest peak in the neighbourhood, the view consists of a sea of wooded 
mountains, except near the coast, with scarcely a house or sign of cultivation. 
I'he natives are harmless and good-natured, but dirty to an incredible degree. 
Travelling is difficult on account of the money, which is all copper and of 
such a low value, that one man can only carry a few shillings' worth ; 
scarcely any food is procurable, and the native habitations are too lively even 
for an entomologist. The traveller must make up his mind to live on what 
he can take with hirn, and to sleep in the open air or under the verandah 
of a temple. However, although living was rather rough and the weather 
l)ad, I was amply repaid for a little hardship by the results of my collecting. 
I decided to leave my assistant, Mr. Gaston Smith, who had so far accompanied 
me, to continue collecting in the neighbourhood of Gensan; he remained 
until nearly the end of July, making several short trips inland, and Avas very 
successful. I should recommend any one visiting this part of Corea to go 
provided with a complete camping outfit; it is a country that would repay the 
sportsman as well as the naturalist. At the end of June I returned to 
Nagasaki, again obtaining a good day's collecting on Deer Island, Fusan. 
Without delaying at Nagasaki, I proceeded at once to Skimonoseki, on the 
northern side of the straits of that name; there is some good collecting- 
ground in the neighbourhood, and less cultivation than in most parts of 
Japan. After a few days I continued my journey northward, my intention 
being to work my way to Yesso, as much as possible by land. Tliis journey 
