THE FELINE. 63 



diers in action. Tonshi Khan, the Emperor's eldest 

 son, master huntsman of the empire, being absent, 

 the Emperor commanded the Nevian, his lieutenant, 

 to prepare the chase, and directed what circumference 

 of ground they must encompass. The officers of the 

 army were to follow at the head of their troops, ac- 

 cording to the prescribed laws concerning hunting. 

 The officers having led their soldiers to the rendez- 

 vous, they ranged them round the space which was 

 encompassed, in the manner of a thick hedge ; some- 

 times doubling the ranks about the circle which the 

 huntsman had appointed. They neglected not to 

 remind the troops, that it was as much as their lives 

 were worth to let the beasts escape out of the ring, 

 which was an immense number of leagues in circum- 

 ference, and enclosed a great number of groves and 

 woods, with all the animals that lived in them. The 

 centre of this great enclosure, whereto all the beasts 

 must retire, was a plain marked out by the hunts- 

 man. 



" The officers of the chase immediately dispatch- 

 ed couriers to the lieutenant-generals for the orders 

 given for marching : the Nevian himself went to re- 

 ceive them from the Grand Khan, and gave them to 

 the couriers, who conveyed them to the hunting of- 

 ficers ; having well observed where the Emperor's 

 quarters were, and in which direction he would ad- 

 vance. On the couriers' arrival, the orders were 

 ';ommunicated to the captains. The kettle-drums, 

 trumpets, and horas sounded the general marrh, 



