KOTES FROM MY DIARY. 261 



learn that any had been seen lately. However on Tuesday morning, the day after Christmas 

 Day some countrymen told us that there were pig in the reeds, and from the boat roof we 

 saw five following in line on an embankment. It was not long before we were on their 

 tracks. When we reached the reed bed we found a fair quantity of reeds had been cut and 

 " stooked-up." We then sent coolies and countrymen, about twenty in all, ta go round the 

 bed and drive towards us who had taken our places, each behind a stook. Three hurried 

 shots were fired as the pig rushed past, when a capital chance was offered to Forrest, who 

 was tugging away with all his might at a half cocked gun. They all got away, and it may 

 be taken that their grunts were but a mild form of jeer. A little later on " P " and I saw a 

 solitary porker wending ^cross a reaped paddy field to another reed bed. We marked the 

 place where he entered, aKd getting the coolies to beat, the pig broke cover far from where 

 he legitimately ought to have, but gave " P " a chance with his double-barrelled Mortimer. 

 The first shot missed, but the second knocked over a fine young sounder at exactly 109 paces. 

 The brute was gralloched on the spot, and its stomach and entrails were found to be a living 

 mass of seething, struggling worms, a sight horribly disgusting enough to choke one off 

 wild boar for all time. 



On our way back to Shanghai some days later and sailing past Soongkong Coutts 



saw geese passing over. He made out that they had settled and wanted to go after them. 



We suggested that it would be a wild chase, but no, he'd have a try. Off he went, had a 



try, and returned with the only goose shot during the trip. He was a glorious sport. 



* * * 



At China New Year 1897, Messrs. J. T. Hamilton (The General) N. E. Cornish, H. R. 

 Hearson and I found ourselves in the Maychee Creek in search of partridges. The " General " 

 undertook the provisioning for the trip because he " knew all about it." His knowledge, as 

 it turned out afterwards, was an order to a couple of stores who certainly "knew all about 

 it" to do their best. The "General " did nothing by halves, and discovering that none of us 

 had any objection to Bovril, laid in a stock which would have lasted ordinary folks months. 

 Anyhow we had Bovril four times a day. The "General" again was keen on shooting, 

 and regularly took the field in a flaring Tam O'Shanter, which was a distinguishing mark 

 for miles. Wednesday, 3rd February, was a mighty cold day. The " General " and I were 

 returning to the boat together, anathematizing the cold, when we found ourselves cut oflf 

 by a creek. Our only means of transit was a rush-cutter's frail craft laden with brambles 

 and engineered by two old women who had to work the boat and look after half a dozen 

 children under four years of age. Hamilton got on board first and down went the craft 

 to the water's edge by the stern, then I got in forward and down went her head. Luckily 

 the dogs chose their own way of crossing. As soon, however, as the boat pushed off 

 Hamilton's efforts to balance himself resulted in the craft careening and our finding 

 ourselves in water deep and cold. A pretty fine ending to a poor day's sport. As near 

 the height of discomfort as can be imagined is the unexpected immersion in icy cold water 

 as twilight sets in in the winter. The sport was poor throughout the trip. Our total bag was 



145 head, of which 51 were partridges, Cornish accounting for 24 of these and Hearson for 15. 



« * « « 



There must be something very attractive about the scent of a hedgehog, for some 

 dogs will " own " the taint from almost incredible distances. My week-end bags have time 



