CHAPTER V. 



THE GORAL. 



NORTH China, except for the great alluvial plains adjoining the 

 seaboard, is essentially a mountainous country. From east to west, 

 and north to south t'hie mighty ranges run. Massive spurs and 

 castellated peaks rise from the ridges, their ribbed and naked sides often 

 falling sharply away for thousands of feet. Down through the strata 

 descend deep chasms, hewn by the eternal passage of mist-fed waters, 

 whose many voices rise from the shadowy depths, so far below that 

 they come only as a gentle murmur. In many places these walls of 

 rock, sheer and precipitous, are scarred across with light grass-covered 

 ledges, upon which one would think an eagle could scarcely find foot- 

 hold, far less a wingless quadruped. 



Here and there caves, wide crevices or water-worn hollows neath 

 over-hanging crags give shelter from t'be warring elements, while, at 

 intervals amongst the precipices and rugged cliffs, occur more gentle 

 slopes, covered with rich grass, dense brush and sometimes with stunted 

 trees. 



It is such places as these that the goral chooses for its home. 

 Here, sure-footed as a cat, agile as a deer, it may hide where none 

 can find, or flee where none dare follow; and so find safety from its 

 many enemies-. 



He who would hunt the goral must be prepared to face the most 

 difficult climbs, involving the hardest kind of work, and calling for a 

 cool head, steady nerves and an active body. Often he will find him- 

 self hanging on by his nails, with nothing but space beneath him, 

 and a seemingly unattainable s'belf his only hope of safety. All this, 

 however, but lends zest to the sport, which ranks very high amongst 

 the different kinds to be had in this country. 



The goral has been called the chamois of Asia, and it would be difficult 

 to find a more appropriate name. In build, size and habits the goral, 

 or good-antelope, as it is sometimes called, is very much like the 

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