390 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



within the proscribed limits. Having traversed the suburbs, 

 we again reached the open country, and passed along the 

 base of a range of hills, beautifully wooded nearly to their 

 summits, and covered with pagodas, old tombs, joss-houses, 

 and various relics of ancient Chinese architecture. 



The features oi 4 the country were gradually changing, and 

 the fields of grain, although still very abundant, were giving 

 way to groves of mulberry trees. We were approaching the 

 great silk district. 



We brought up our boats for the night several miles on 

 the left bank of the canal, where the marshy ground, under 

 wide irrigation, promised a fine field for sport on the follow- 

 ing day; indeed, with the exception of the banks, which 

 were lined with mulberry trees, the whole surface of the 

 country began to assume a swampy appearance ; large beds 

 of high reeds were visible here and there, with aqueous 

 grasses, and plants of all descriptions, and we were evidently 

 approaching some great inland depository or source of the 

 numerous intersecting channels that were now visible in all 

 directions. 



On landing early in the morning, and selecting a wide 

 extent of green rushes for our field of operations, I tried the 

 following system of beating for any game that might be 

 found. 



Having procured a piece of cord about one hundred yards 

 in length, I directed two of our boatmen to hold each extre- 

 mity, and placed several others, at equal distances, holding 

 on in the centre. In this position they were ordered to 

 march in line, dragging the rope along the low reeds, whilst 

 we walked a few paces before them. In spite of the nume- 

 rous obstructions, in the shape of ditches, water-holes, &c., 

 into which both we and our beaters were continually falling, 

 our plan proved tolerably successful; and, in addition to 

 snipe, and a very dark-coloured sort of quail, many kinds of 



