CHINESE SPORTSMAN AND WEAPONS 219 



matchlock. During the season of 1904, I 

 was shooting on the Yangtze river and on 

 one occasion anchored my houseboat near 

 the bank on which stood a small straw 

 thatched hut. Early the following morn- 

 ing there came on board a young China- 

 man of splendid physique and at once 

 began an animated conversation with my 

 Chinese boy servant. As the latter spoke 

 English I soon learned that my boat was 

 anchored near the hunting ground of my 

 visitor, but he extended a cordial invitation 

 of welcome because, he said, that he was 

 out of ammunition and hoped that I would 

 give him a few loads for his gun. Appreciat- 

 ing the somewhat selfish element in his 

 welcome, I made the condition that I 

 would comply with his request if he would 

 pilot me to the best shooting ground, and to 

 which he readily consented. I opened 

 several cartridges and gave him the con- 

 tents and soon we were on our way to the 

 happy hunting fields. His gun was of the 

 matchlock pattern, with an iron barrel 

 about five feet long, and weighing as much 

 as sixteen pounds. The stock was made of 

 wood and of the shape of a carpenter's 

 plane. At the breech the barrel was 



