212 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



Pits are sometimes dug, with sloping sides 

 broader at bottom than top, and which are 

 covered with brushwood overlaid with 

 earth and grass, and over which an un- 

 suspecting animal will attempt to walk and 

 consequently fall into the pit, there to 

 remain until his captor comes, as owing to 

 the inward slope of the pit the animal 

 cannot get out. In the Yang-tze Valley, 

 where there are a great many wild fowl, 

 the native sportsman provides himself with 

 a small punt on the forepart of which he 

 mounts a heavy matchlock musket, which 

 is known as the gingal, something like the 

 ancient blunderbusses or wall pieces used 

 in the defense of ancient castles. 



For ammunition the sportsman uses a 

 common grade of black powder and cast 

 iron shot, and is not particular as to the 

 quantity of powder or shot he wads into 

 his gun as long as he believes that it will 

 not be damaged by the discharge. When 

 the gun is loaded the shooter disguises 

 himself and punt as a floating bush by 

 tying branches of trees and plants over all 

 in such a manner as the wild fowl may not 

 suspect and fly away. He then embarks 

 on his frail punt with a paddle, a pole and 



