NOTES BY AN OLD SPORTSMAN 281 



pairs of ordinary walking boots. Long 

 before our week's holiday was up not a 

 single pair of my boots could boast of a 

 sole. The binding snow and the sticky 

 mud, when the thaw came, left me minus 

 of all but the uppers. 



Two shooting trips memorable from the 

 aquatic incidents of each come vividly 

 before me. 



In the winter of 1867 I started off on the 

 Grand Tour which, at that time, included 

 visits to Kashing, Soochow and the Nadoo 

 country. My companion was Mr. George 

 Butler, who is still alive and here to con- 

 firm the story. Our trip was to be an affair 

 of three weeks at least. The boat was 

 well stocked, and off we started at 8 o'clock 

 one morning, a strong northeasterly wind 

 driving up the spring flood tide. No 

 sooner were we under weigh than an 

 examination of our shooting paraphernalia 

 took place, when to our early and intense 

 disgust it was discovered that my comrade 

 had come away minus his cartridges. There 

 was no help for it but to tie up the boat on 

 the Pootung side of the river opposite to the 

 French Concession, cross the racing stream 



