22 GOLDEN PHEASANTS 



heads that this would bring luck to the foreigners, and 

 they therefore, at considerable expense, built a joss- 

 house on a hill of nearly as great an altitude, situated 

 about a mile from the town at the back of the settle- 

 ment (taking care that the top of the joss-house should 

 be higher than the top of the hill on the other side of 

 the river), in order to transfer the good luck to their 

 city. From this joss-house a beautiful view of the city, 

 settlement, and surrounding country is obtained. 



Numbers of Golden Pheasants can be purchased in 

 the autumn. Tliev are brouo-ht to market in cag-es 

 much too small for them, and in consequence their 

 plumage is greatly damaged. As I wished to keep 

 some till they had moulted and attained their full 

 beauty, I had an aviary built, into which, when com- 

 pleted, I turned about fifteen couple, which I had 

 bought at the cost of about 400 cash, or say two shil- 

 lings, the pair. A heavy fall of snow unfortunately 

 broke the roof in and many escaped, the remainder 

 being killed by stoats, which are very numerous and 

 exceedingly audacious. No place appeared safe from 

 them, for they would steal chickens frequently from the 

 house, and even if my boat was alongside the bank with 

 the ofano'board out, would come on board to forage. 



A large species of sturgeon, Psephurus gladius, may 

 be seen exposed for sale in sections in the city, the flesh 



