THE GORAL. 37 



and came scrambling along towards the watchers. One of the sports- 

 men opened fire, and immediately the goats sought cover and were 

 lost to view. He then started to climb down to where he thought 

 the quarry were hiding; but had not gone far when they broke cover 

 again. Eaisiug his rifle he commenced to fire, regardless of the fact 

 that his foothold had given way and he was sliding down a grassy 

 slope towards the brink of the precipice. Of course his shots went 

 wide, the goats got away, and he was only just able to save himself 

 by digging the butt of his Winchester into the clinging grass, roots. The 

 other sportsman had been unable to get a second view of the goats. 



On another occasion a goat was put up and was actually headed 

 ofi from the high cliffs, and kept dodging about the lower slopes for 

 fully half an hour. The sixteen shots that were fired at this one all 

 went wide, and presently, having worn its pursuers down to a state 

 approaching prostration, the goat managed to get back to the high 

 peaks and safety. 



During my last trip with Captain Holcomb several goats were 

 bagged, but it was only by driving, the method invariably employed 

 by the Chinese hunters, that my companion got his. 



This form of sport is really very enjoyable. Choosing, if possible 

 a bright warmi day, the party consisting, of two or three guns and as 

 many beaters make for a likely spot. A stiff climb is always necessary 

 for the guns to get to their posts. They are assigned certain positions 

 along the probable lines of flight of the quarry. Here they make them- 

 selves as comfortable as possible, while the beaters go round to 

 drive out the goats. Presently the long shouts of the drivers com- 

 mence. Anon these change, and the anxious listener can distinctly 

 make out the words "yang kuo ke la," meaning "a sheep has gone 

 over," and indicating that the game is afoot. If luck is with the 

 sportsman he will soon see a goat passing within easy range, and a 

 careful shot brings the drive to a successful close. 



Though I spent a couple of days driving, my only goat was secured 

 one morning on its way back to its haunts, after its daily drink from 

 the stream in the valley bottom. I had started out earlier than usual 

 that morning, and so got ahead of the grass cutters, who usually dis- 

 turbed the game in the valleys on the way to their work. Within 

 a mile of camp we suddenly came upon the goat, which offered the 

 usual tantalizing mark, as it scurried up amongst the rocks. It had 

 gained an altitude of some 200 ft. above the stream bed before I was 

 able to get a good aim. My second shot hit it in the shoulders but did 

 not disable it and it continued upwards with wonderful agility. At 



