I70 CHINESE DEMAND FOR STAGS' HORNS. 



brilliancy of colouring, and it is only close to a spring 

 that you see vegetation at its best. 



During our fortnight's sojourn in the Munni-ula 

 we went on several shooting excursions, often pass- 

 ing our nights in the mountains to take advantage 

 of the early morning for sport. We were unsuccess- 

 ful, however, in killing a stag, although they abound 

 here, but just at this season they are eagerly sought 

 after by the native hunters for the sake of their 

 young antlers, which are highly esteemed in China. 

 The most valuable are those with a third branch, 

 containing the largest quantity of blood ; they are 

 worth from fifty to seventy lans each (14/. to 18/.) ; 

 old horns of course are valueless. 



The demand for deers' antlers is so great that 

 thousands are annually imported from Siberia via 

 Kiakhta, to which place they are sent by post from 

 the most remote parts ; a great many are also 

 bought by the Chinese on the Amur, and sent to 

 Peking through Manchuria. 



During my residence on the Amur as well as on 

 the present expedition I often enquired what use 

 these young horns were put to, but never received 

 any satisfactory answer. The Chinese keep it a 

 profound secret ; if report is to be believed, they 

 undergo some preparation, and are used as a strong 

 stimulant by the Celestials. I will not vouch for the 

 veracity of this statement, but in any case young 

 antlers take an important place in the Chinese phar- 

 macopoeia, or they would not be so extensively 

 used or fetch such high prices. 



