In 1657, Hamel and his mates
arrived in Gangjin, Jeolla-do.
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According to ¡ºThe Journal of Hamel¡», the military
commander of Jeolla Byeongyeong faced a crisis of dismissal
due to professional negligence, but he was highly regarded
by many people and came from a distinguished family.
Ministers defended him so he was especially pardoned.
The name of this governor was Yu Jeong-ik and Hamel
seemed very friendly with him.
In February, 1657, the new governor was appointed and
treated Hamel and his mates very badly totally unlike
the previous one.
They were given free firewood previously, but the new
chief made void of all the special favors they used
to receive and harassed them with many tasks.
In September, he suddenly died of a heart attack, so
they were out of his autocratic rule. Furthermore, Jeolla
people suffered from his misrule and his death was very
fortunate for them as well.
In November, 1657, the new governor
arrived.
It may be lucky or unhappy that he was completely indifferent
to Hamel and his mates. They asked clothes or other
consideration, but he refused because he was not ordered
to give them anything except the 50 geun of rice. Even
if there was something needed, they had to solve it
for themselves. During the winter season they only had
clothes which were worn out like rags due to their tasks
of collecting firewood in the forest.
But on the other hand, their lives
in Gangin were freer.
In Jeju or Seoul, they were closely watched, but in
Gangjin they could go anywhere if the governor permitted.
According to¡ºThe Journal of Hendrick Hamel¡», they were
hard up for money and they learned that begging was
not a fault. They told their adventures and charged
money for their story. In this way, they could buy goods
to prepare for the winter.
Interestingly, Hamel and his mates gained some money
by telling their adventures. It implies that in 1657,
four years after they were shipwrecked in Jeju-do, they
were very good at Korean and familiar with the life
in Joseon.
At the beginning of year 1658,
the new governor came.
He did not allowed them to goout again and propose to
use their labor on condition of providing textiles of
four fathoms per year. The price was so small, so they
refused his proposal politely. Instead, they asked a
travel for 15 or 20 days by turns and obtained his consent.
But the permission was given on condition that the rest
nursed patients with a fever and they must not go near
to Seoul and Japanese place of residence.
In April, 1659, King Hyojong
passed away and the Crown Prince Hyeonjong became a
king. According to Hamel, their life in Gangjin from
1660 to 1662 wasvery free without particular problems.
In particular, he has friends at the temples near Gangin.
He received many helps from Buddhist monks, who were
greatly interested in foreign things. When telling about
foreign countries' customs, they received warm hospitality
in return.
They often talked the night away.
Early 1660, the new governor
came. He was very kind and sympathetic to them. He spoke
repeatedly that if he had authority, he could send them
home.
Unfortunately, misfortunes happened to them that year.
Joseon had a very severe drought all over the nation.
According to¡ºThe Journal of Hendrick
Hamel¡», in 1662,
thousand people died from famine brought about by drought.
Hamel and his mates were afraid of going out because
of street robbers.
Streets were strictly guarded to prevent robbery and
murder. Dead bodies littered on the roads because of
the famine. Occasionally, national warehouses were attacked
and the stocks of military rice were stolen. Many counties
suffered damages that period.
This famine lasted three years until early 1662, people
could hardly plant a seedling.
As a result, the governor of Jeolla-do informed Hamel
and his mates that he could not provide them grain any
more.
Late February of the same year, the superior office
ordered to break them up to groups: 12 went to Yeosu
(Saijsingh in the original text), 5 to Suncheon(Suintchien
in the original text), and 5 went to Namwon (Namman
in the original text).
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