SPORTING AND GUARD DOGS 



representing two figures of men, one of whom seems to be 

 carrying a falcon, in a cave near Turfan in Turkistan.* 



" In China, hawks, eagles, and other large birds of prey, are 

 early mentioned in the ' Shih king ' and in the 'Li ki,' 

 particularly in poetical comparisons ; but in classical litera- 

 ture no mention is made of falconry or of the training of birds 

 for the chase, which seems to have come up not earlier than 



FIGURE OP DOG ON HAN BAS-RELIEF OF HSIAO T'ANG SHAN 



the Han dynasty, and soon developed into the favourite sport 

 and pastime of emperors and noblemen." f 



Marco Polo describes the Emperor's method of fowling 

 with falcons and other hawks : " And let me tell you, when 

 he goes a-fowling with his Ger falcons and other hawks he 

 is attended by full 10,000 men who are disposed in couples. 

 Every man of them is provided with a whistle and hood, so as 

 to be able to call in a hawk and hold it in hand. And when the 

 Emperor makes a cast there is no need that he follow it up, 

 because these men I speak of keep so good a look-out that they 

 never lose sight of the bird, and if these have need of help 

 they are ready to render it." J 



* " Expedition nach Turfan," St. Petersburg, 1899. 



f " Chinese Pottery of the Han Dynasty," Laufer, p. 232. 



I " Marco Polo's Travels," Yule. 



63 



