156 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



taken by native hunters to spear this animal. Two trees 

 growing side by side are selected, and a large, heavy log-beam 

 is attached to a pivot resting in the fork of convenient branches. 

 This beam measures about 8 feet in length, and in the extremity 

 a stout stake about 15 inches long and shod with a barbed spear 

 some 8 inches long is fixed. From the end nearest the pivot 

 a bamboo rope is suspended. The beam is poised by puUing 

 down this rope and attaching it to a cunningly arranged con- 

 trivance some 14 inches above the ground (see illus. p. 170), 

 To the stout fixed parts are arranged two collapsible rods, to 

 one of which a trip-rope is attached. This trip-rope is stretched 

 across the " run " and lashed to a tree on the opposite side, 

 the height above the ground being about the same as the 

 animal's knee-height. The whole trap is a rough and strong 

 yet a delicate and devilish contrivance. An animal coming 

 down the run touches the trip-rope with its forelegs, and is 

 immediately impaled by the spear. The cross-beam, to which 

 the spear is attached, is so heavy that the spear is driven 

 almost through the animal's body behind the shoulder, in- 

 flicting a mortal wound. Death may often be slow, but it is 

 always sure, and very seldom can a wounded beast break 

 away. The " run " is only roughly trampled out, and the 

 bamboo stems and other brush effectually hide the trip-rope. 

 These traps are in common use, and are a source of consider- 

 able danger to anyone traversing these runs. A Chinese youth 

 employed by Zappey accidentally released the trip-rope of one 

 of these traps, and the iron spear-head passed right through 

 the thick of his thigh, luckily missing the arteries and bones. 

 The spear-head (see figure, p. 170) was cut off on the inside 

 of the thigh, and the shaft tugged out on the opposite side. 

 The youth recovered, but suffered a very bad wound for many 

 weeks. 



Dead-falls are also employed by the natives in trapping 

 many animals, but these are scarcely sufficient to kill a large 

 adult Takin. These dead-falls are fitted with a treadle arrange- 

 ment, and the animal stepping upon this causes the whole mass 

 to fall, crushing him to death. 



Around Wa shan the Takin is killed by an arrow shot 

 from a cross-bow fixed by hunters alongside the run or by 



