Only when sunset has come is it that the procession, having made its way towards one of the city gates, finally leaves the town and winds its way through the open country to a suitable spot for the chopping-off process.  Executions are not held at any particular spot; and in former days, even a few years ago, it was not an uncommon occurrence to see the dead bodies of beheaded people lying about in the streets of Seoul.  Now, however, they generally take the offenders outside the Wall, and inflict the capital punishment miles away from the town.

The execution represented in the illustration, took place on the sixth of February, 1891, and is a reproduction of a picture which I have done from sketches taken on the spot.  The men executed on this occasion numbered seven, and the crime committed, was “high treason.”  They had conspired to upset the reigning dynasty of Cho-sen, and had devised the death of His Majesty the King.  Unfortunately for them, the plot was discovered before its aims could be carried out, and the ringleaders arrested and imprisoned.  For over a year they had remained in gaol, undergoing severe trials, and being constantly tortured and flogged to make them confess their crime, and betray the friends who were implicated with them.  That, however, being of no avail, the seven men were at last all sentenced to death.  Three of them were noblemen, and one a priest; while the others were commoner people, though well-to-do.  Here are their names; Yi-Keun-eung, Youn-Tai-son, Im-Ha-sok, Kako (priest), Yi-sang-hik, Chyong-Hiong-sok, Pang-Pyong-Ku.

[Illustration:  A STUDY FROM STILL-LIFE]

Having undergone the final drive through the town, by the sound of the big bell at sunset the cortege passed through the “Gate of the Dead;” then, leaving the crowded streets of the capital, it made its way towards the spot where the execution was to take place.  The place selected was on a naturally raised ground, nearly 20 lis (61/2 miles) from Seoul, a lonely spot, overlooking a deserted plain.  The high road was only a few hundred yards distant, and could be plainly seen as a white interminable line, like a white tape, at the foot of the distant hills.

The bull carts were stopped some little way below this spot on the flat ground, and then, one by one, the wretched creatures were taken down and removed from their crosses in a brutal manner, and handed over to the executioner.  Senseless, they lay on the ground, with their arms tied behind their backs, and a long rope fastened to their top-knots in the hair; until they were carried one after another, and laid flat on their faces, with their chests on the little stools seen in the picture.  When they had all been thus stationed, the executioner proceeded to administer blows with his blunt sword until the heads were severed from the bodies.  On the occasion in question, several of the bodies were hacked about most mercilessly through the inexperience or drunkenness of this brute.  The third man in the illustration, for example, had a good part of his left shoulder cut off as clean as a whistle, although the blow had been meant to strike the neck; but let this suffice for these horrible details.  I have mentioned them, partly, that they may be compared with the dexterous doings of the neighbouring Chinese, whose skill in the chopping-off line is beyond description.