anything which has occurred in Korea. It is merely the fact that Korean exclusiveness was impinged upon somewhat later in the day that won for her the term "hermit." The difficulties encountered in opening up this country to foreign intercourse were nothing compared with those required to secure the acquiescence of either Japan or China to such action. I am prepared to say that the conservatism of the Korean has always been less than that of the Chinese. This is simply a sociological manifestation of the law of inertia. The late regent never cherished a fonder hatred against foreigners than did Prince Tuan, and no Korean ruler of the past, if brought to life, would exterminate them with greater glee than would the present Empress Dowager of China, had she but the ability.
It was between the years 1876 and 1884 that Korea was fully opened to foreign commerce in our western acceptance of the term. From the very first the trade, both import and export, has shown a steady and healthy growth. The Korean was very quick to learn the value of Manchester cottons, American petroleum and Japanese friction matches, and now all these and many other products of other countries find their way to the remotest parts of the peninsula.
This import trade owes very much to the excellent way in which the Customs has been handled. From the very first it has been in English hands. One has only to look at Turkey to see how different the status of foreign trade might be in Korea had the customs duties been collected by Korean or by any other Far Eastern people. It was a sad day for this country when the English hand was removed from the helm in favour of the Japanese.
We can here give only the briefest sketch of the export and import trade of the country. The minutiae are of interest only to the statistician. For the past four years the value of the exports has averaged, in round numbers, $4,000,000. This does not include gold bullion, which has been about $2,500,000 a year.
The goods exported are, in order of their value, beans, rice,
