food and clothes in compensation. The position of the sang-no is more humble than that filled by the paid servant and superior to that of the slave proper. He is bound by no agreement and is free to leave.
The duties of a slave comprise the rough work of the house. She attends to the washing — an exacting and continuous labour in a Korean household ; carries water from the well, assists with the cooking, undertakes the marketing and runs errands. She is not allowed to participate in any duties of a superior character ; her place is in the kitchen or in the yard, and she cannot become either a lady's maid or a favoured servant of any degree. In the fulness of time she may figure in the funeral procession of her master.
There are four ways by which the Korean woman may become a slave. She may give herself into slavery, voluntarily, in exchange for food, clothes and shelter through her abject poverty. The woman who becomes a slave in this way cannot buy back her freedom. She has fewer rights than the slave who is bought or who sells herself. The daughter of any slave who dies in service continues in slavery. In the event of the marriage of her mistress such a slave ranks as a part of the matrimonial dot. A woman may be reduced to slavery by the treasonable misdemeanours of a relative. The family of a man convicted of treason becomes the property of the Government, the women being allotted to high officials. They are usually liberated. Again, a woman may submit herself to the approval of a prospective employer. If she is found satisfactory and is well recommended, her services may realise between forty, fifty, or one hundred thousand cash. When payment has been made, she gives a deed of her own person to her purchaser, imprinting the outline of her hand upon the
