Page:Korea (1904).djvu/276

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224
KOREA

in silver. The one royal quadruped associated with Korea, as the white elephant is with Siam, the dromedary with Egypt, the bison with the United States, is the tiger. Unlike the Indian species, that delights in the tropical

A SUMMER PLEASAUNCE

jungles, this animal is found in Korea in the snow and forests of the north, and as far as the fiftieth parallel. In the mind of the Korean, the tiger is the symbol of fierceness, an emblem of martial pomp and glory. The tiger hunters affect to despise their noble game, and upon occasions they even attack them single-handed with a lance or short sword, assisted by trained dogs. Tigers are sometimes caught in pits, covered with earth and bushes, and filled with slakes. In this condition it is easy to kill them. The hunters eat the meat, selling the skin and bones.

Tiger hunters are exceptionally courageous. Their services are requisitioned by their Government upon