going a long way around to enter the gate, even when there is a breach in the wall quite sufficient to give easy access. But, on the other hand, the Korean has no respect whatever for a fence which he can see through. He will climb over or through and consider it no trespass at all. Before many weeks have passed the pickets will begin to disappear, and someone will be the richer by so much firewood. It is only the wall or fence that is impervious to sight that impresses the native of this country. The ordinary walls are made of dirt packed down tightly between parallel boards by a process quite unique, and to be described only by an illustration. The wall is about eighteen inches thick and is covered with tiles. The sides are scraped smooth, and after they have dried they are covered with lime plaster. If well made and with sufficient foundation, such a wall will last for many years. Where the red disintegrated granite is available the wall can be made so solid that even after the tiles have been removed it will stand for years.
The Koreans have no notion of public parks or other places of public ornament or recreation, and yet they are passionately fond of wandering about the hills finding picturesque nooks and enjoying the beauties of nature. In many of these retreats there are semi-public houses of diversion, which include a considerable area of land enclosed by a wall. These places belong to the government, and can be used only by application to the proper office. School picnics or other similar entertainments are held in these pretty retreats during the proper season, but it is only the upper classes that have access to them at any time. Their only attractions are a rocky gorge, a little pond and a summer pavilion ten feet square. In country districts the monasteries form the public parks. These are always beautifully situated, and are surrounded with trees. Here the people will congregate and have a grand picnic, generally in connection with some national festival. But besides this, there is in almost every village some large tree beneath which the people meet to talk and gossip. It is the village agora. The old men bring out
