224 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



the emperor makes a cast there is no need 

 that he follow it up, for those men I speak 

 of keep so good a look out that they never 

 lose sight of the birds, and if these have 

 need of help they are ready to render it. 



" All the emperor's hawks, and those of 

 the barons as well have a little label at- 

 tached to the leg to mark them, on which 

 is written the names of the owner and the 

 keep of the bird. And in this way the 

 hawk, when caught, is at once identified 

 and handed over to its owner. But if not, 

 the bird is carried to a certain baron, who 

 is styled the Bularguchi, which is as much 

 as to say " The Keeper of Lost Property." 

 And I tell you that whatever may be fouud 

 without a known owner, whether it be a 

 horse, or a sword, or a hawk, or what not, it 

 is carried to that baron straightway, and 

 he takes charge of it. And if the finder 

 neglects to carry his trover to the baron, the 

 latter punishes him. Likewise the loser of 

 any article goes to the baron, and if the thing 

 be in his hands it is immediately given up 

 to the owner. Moreover, the said baron 

 always pitches on the highest spot of the 

 camp, with his banner displayed, in order 

 that those who have lost or found anything 



