208 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



been powerless to defend China from 

 aggression and insult, and all because of 

 their want of patriotism. 



During the thirteenth century of our era 

 the emperors of the Yuan dynasty, being 

 Mongolians, were hardy sportsmen as well 

 as warriors, and were accustomed to or- 

 ganize hunting expeditions on a large scale 

 and took an active part, themselves, in 

 the chase. These emperors established 

 immense parks and preserves for wild 

 animals, including many varieties of beasts 

 and birds, where they and the nobles went 

 every winter to hunt them. Aside from 

 the healthy exercise of the mind and body, 

 resulting from the active participation in 

 the sport, it taught the practical use of 

 weapons, and they also became inured to 

 the hardships of long journeys, camp life 

 and the use of the saddle. 



The earliest emperors of the present 

 dynasty (Ta-ching) were also ardent sports- 

 men and fond of other field exercise. These 

 emperors were Manchurians, and followed 

 the examples of their Mongolian predeces- 

 sors by organizing hunting expeditions, 

 establishing Imperial Parks and game 

 preserves beyond the Great Wall. During 



