56 GUN, KOD, AND SADDLE. 



made, when we stand direct for Castle Peak Bay, 

 our destination; and what a pretty spot it is, 

 sheltered from the cold winds : both grass and 

 shrubs grow in luxuriance down to the edge of 

 the water, while at the head of the bay is situated 

 one of those quaint joss-houses, of architecture pe- 

 culiarly Chinese, imbedded in a grove of banyans. 

 The country around is a succession of rolling hills, 

 gradually gaining height as they recede from the 

 bay till they reach an elevated rocky ridge of most 

 irregular outline, one portion resembling an old 

 castellated ruin, from which, doubtless, this placid 

 bay gains its name. When within a hundred yards 

 of shore, "let go the anchor" was given, and we 

 swung round and surveyed our shooting-ground 

 with satisfaction expressed on every countenance. 

 The day before our party started, information had 

 been brought by a cooly that the quail, in their 

 regular autumnal migratory flight, had arrived ; and 

 scarcely had we progressed inland a hundred paces 

 before the dogs were standing, and from that 

 moment, till dark, the time for loading was even 

 grudged ; the quantity that we brought to bag I 

 forget, and consequently fear to make a statement ; 

 but this I know, it far exceeded our most sanguine 



