京城から龍山・永登浦経由で仁川（済物浦）へ

47. From Seoul via Ryuzan and Eitoho to Jinsen (Chemulpo).

Seoul-Jinsen Line.

25 M. Several trains daily (from the Nandaimon Station; Pl. B, 3, in about 1 hr.); fare 1st cl., ¥1.70; 2d cl., ¥1.10; 3d cl., 60 sen. Passengers from Fusan may leave the main line north-bound train at Eitoho (Rte. 45), 7 M. S. of Seoul, and await the train there. Cars are marked Jinsen — the Japanese name for the Chemulpo of the Koreans. The rly. (constructed by Americans in 1899) was the first one built in Korea. The distances are counted from Eitoho.

The line passes out through Ryuzan, crosses the Han River on the main line bridge, then bears W. and runs toward the Yellow Sea. Cars must be changed at Eitoho Jct. unless one has boarded a through car marked Jinsen. The train traverses a fairly fertile country where many of the vegetables for the city markets are raised. Low, semi-denuded hills mark the sky-line; many cosmos flowers enliven the scene in summer. The few stations (4 M. Goryudo, 7 M. Sosha, 11 M. Fuhei, and 14 M. Shuan) are uninteresting. The sea is visible at the left, and near it are vast salt basins operated by the Gov't. 17 M. Chuken, a suburban station, is nearer to the E. end of Chemulpo (and to the business quarter) than the terminal station a mile farther on. The road from here to the town (jinriki, 15 sen) leads up the hill at the left and passes beneath the big stone arch near the summit; the town is then descried on the slope beyond. The port is rapidly expanding in the direction of Chuken, and many dwellings now cover the hill-slopes; those which crown the summit of the big hill behind which Chemulpo lies, are the homes of foreigners. To these and to intelligent Japanese supervision and reforms are due all the manifold improvements and progress of the entire region. Under Korean rule all was stagnation and decay.

18 M. Chemulpo, an important and thriving port in Kyong-Kwi Province, on an estuary of the Han River overlooking the Yellow Sea, on the W. coast in lat. 37° 28' 30" N. and long. 126° 37' E. of Greenwich, is known for its fine climate, splendid situation, sheltered harbor, and charming sea views. Until it was opened to foreign trade (in 1883) by the treaty with Japan, it was an insignificant fishing-village; to-day upward of 1000 steamships and sailing-vessels anchor in its harbor each year, and its annual exports amount to 60 million yen — (imports 69 million yen). It is often referred to as the Yokohama of Korea, and the progressiveness of its merchants warrants the name. Of the 57,000 inhabs., 11,948 are Japanese, and but a small percentage foreigners. A number of Chinese merchants have hongs here. Many of the Japanese shops are attractive, with Korean and Nipponese specialties. — Jinsen Hotel, rates from ¥7 a day, Am. Pl. Ships of the Osaka Shosen Kaisha (Osaka-Jinsen Line) leave twice a week for (731 M.) Osaka; (fare, ¥24), and call at other ports. Passengers are landed free in the company launch. — Sept. and Oct. are the best months for a visit. Bright frosty weather usually prevails in Jan., with snow at intervals between Sept. and March. Fogs are frequent off the coast from March to July, but are comparatively rare from Oct. to Feb. — The town rises back up the slope of the hill from the sea, and from the houses perched near the summit superb seascapes are obtained. The British Consulate stands on the crest of the ridge, and hard

by is the Chemulpo Club, with British and American members. The island one sees straight out in the bay is Observation Island; between it and the shore the Gov't is making harbor improvements, to cost 4 million yen. Getsubito Island is 1/2 nautical mile to the W. The Bank of Chosen has a branch here, and there are a number of small shops. The drinking-water (filtered through sand) is supposed to be good, but prudent travelers will boil it before imbibing it. The waterworks were installed in 1908, and water is drawn from a point on the Han River 3 M. from Seoul (near Tukuson). There are few points of special interest in or near Chemulpo; the International Park is about 1/4 M. east of the rly. station; the Daijingu Shrine (Shinto, p. ccxiv) 3/4 M. to the E. The first shot in the Japan-Russia War was fired in Chemulpo Harbor Feb. 8, 1904, when the Japanese fleet of 7 cruisers appeared off the entrance and discovered the Russian men-of-war Variag and Korietz anchored therein. The Korietz attempted to escape to Port Arthur, but was intercepted. When advised by the Japanese admiral that if they did not leave the harbor at once they would be attacked at their anchorage, the ships steamed out, but soon crept back riddled and worthless wrecks.