NOTES ON THE NEARER LYING SHOOTING DISTRICTS. 9 



SOOCHOW CREEK. 

 I2.--W0NGDOO (]g VJS). "The Yellow Ferry." 



Wongdoo boasts of the only bridge across the Soochow Creek after the Settlement is 

 once cleared. It is 72 // distant, and the Four Waters— Sukongkeu (13 S it P)— formed 

 by the bi-section of the main creek by the Powwokong (Q S| CC) and Big Trees Creeks 

 (H M ^), are 12 // further Westwards. The tide runs up to just beyond Wongdoo Bridge, 

 and lowdahs generally try to time matters so as to get the benefit of the tide going and 

 returning. 



On the South side of Wongdoo Bridge, a couple of // inland, are the remains of an 

 old buffalo feeding ground, which in former years was a favourite settling place of the 

 migrating snipe ; but draining and cultivation have now quite altered the condition of the 

 ground. On the North side of the bridge, distant 2 //, lies the town of Wongdoo, at the 

 head of the Fongtah (^ ^) Creek. Either bank of the Soochow Creek from Wongdoo to 

 the Four Waters may be profitably walked ; and in the early season it is no uncommon 

 thing to flush a dozen pheasants within those limits. 



Three // above Wongdoo Bridge, running south, is a pretty but very tortuous, and in 

 seasons very shallow, creek leading to Bokosan (Q ^ llj), the first of those elevations 

 which go by the name of "the Hills." A series of marshes lies at the foot of these hills, 

 and harbour a fair lot of winter snipes when the ground is suitable. Here, too, on the 

 slopes of the hills the first woodcocks of the season are generally seen. 



The Powwokong Creek is the route taken to Tsingpoo (W M). The Creek known as 

 the "Big Trees" Creek, running from the Four Waters to Zemingdong, is a very favourite 

 Sunday summer resort. 



Further Westward on the South side of the Soochow Creek is Su Kong Kow (M tt CI), 

 one of the routes to the Sitai Lake (Wi ill MX 20 // further up the Creek is Lokopan 

 iW ^ M) — in the " sixties " a great shooting country, but even now a pretty sure find for 

 two or three brace of pheasants. 



Sankongkeu (H CC P) is a good spring and autumn snipe ground. At the South 

 end of the Chintung Creek ('T' ^ M), which here leaves the main waterway, lie the Sitai 

 marshes, a place not often visited from being too far away for the week-end shooter, but if 

 fairly wet a more or less sure find for the winter long-bill. 



13.— Taitsan {X1^). "The Great Granary." 



Taitsan is a large walled city lying about three-fourths of a mile to the North of 

 what is known as the Taitsan Creek. The quickest, but not the pleasantest, route to it is by 

 way of Naziang, Kading and Nakong {^ ^) 130 //. A more agreeable journey, and only 

 8 // longer, is via Wongdoo and Fongtah ; but the pleasantest way is via Four Waters and 

 Monksijow. There is not much to be done in the shooting line until Koolunchun (IS- ^ l^"}), 

 on the Nakong Creek, is passed. Then the country begins to appear dotted with copses, 

 which gradually increase in size as Taitsan — a favourite haunt of the woodcocks — is 

 approached. There is a capital stretch of country outside the city walls, extending from the 

 West to the South and East gates — a sure find for pheasants, especially towards evening. 



