CHAPTER I. 



LANGUAGE-PEOPLE-MONEY. 



After an experience of several years as a 

 shooter in China I am convinced that the 

 special subjects of this chapter are not ir- 

 relevant to the main subject I have select- 

 ed to write about. Had I been informed 

 on these subjects when I first came to 

 China, as generally even as I am at present, 

 the information would have been of decided 

 practical convenience and the pleasures of 

 shooting materially promoted. It is not my 

 purpose to attempt to write technically of 

 the language, the people, or the money of 

 China, but rather to refer to some of the 

 peculiarities of each with the hope of 

 smoothing the way of the shooter who may 

 come to this empire to enjoy his sport. 



Shortly after my arrival in China I at- 

 tended the session of a Chinese Ccurt and 

 soon observed that the judge was inter- 

 rogating a witness by the aid of an inter- 

 preter. As the judge, the interpreter, and 

 the witness were all of the same nationality 

 the reason for such a procedure was not 

 plain to me, and meeting the judge after 



