296 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



for the moment by taking notice of a child, 

 giving it a small coin, or a handful of shot, 

 or by presenting a bird or two out of the 

 bag to an old woman, or even by firing at 

 any bird that may perchance be flying over 

 head. 



If the crowd prove very aggressive, and 

 there is nothing for it but a fight, the best 

 plan is to go into a shop or farm house, the 

 more respectable the better, and leave the 

 inmates to deal with the mob whilst an 

 escape is attempted through the back 

 premises. At the same time as bold and 

 fearless a front as possible must be main- 

 tained short of acting actually on the 

 offensive. 



Violence of any kind will be found a 

 mistake, for numbers must tell in the long 

 run, and the game is not worth the candle. 

 Where a mandarin's poles are anywhere in 

 view, it is not a bad plan to make for them 

 sharp, and if possible, to get hold of the 

 mandarin himself by pushing into his 

 inner rooms, for he will never show himself 

 otherwise. 



Another common cause of annoyance is 

 the grabbing by the country people of 

 game as it falls, and running away with it 



