236 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



behind in so far as he has not provided 

 himself with them. 



There are public inns in China where 

 the natives appear to find the comforts 

 which satisfy them, but the experience of a 

 night at a Chinese inn will leave the 

 westerner with an impression never to be 

 gotten rid of. As a rule the food is so 

 prepared and of such a character that it is 

 really uneatable, and unless the traveller 

 has been thoughtful in providing both food 

 and drink he will suffer much in conse- 

 quence; and the sleeping arrangements at a 

 Chinese inn are as repelling as the food on 

 the table. Occasionally an e^g may be 

 bought, but the shooter must remember that 

 the age of an egg adds greatly to its value 

 and appreciation by the Chinese. The bed- 

 stead in an inn is known as the kang, which 

 is a kind of platform, and when the weather 

 is cold it is heated so as to keep the sleeper 

 warm. This platform is built of brick and 

 will measure in width more than two full 

 size English bedsteads, and when necessary 

 will accomodate several sleepers. The 

 kang is about two feet high, the top being 

 covered with large and thin red bricks 

 presents a smooth surface. The interior is 



