Sporting Notes in the Far East. 21 



In going up a strange river or creek in a boat ; any conspicuous 

 bush, bank, or stone, that you pass, point them out to your 

 boatkeeper, and make him impress the several positions well on 

 his mind. Then in shooting home, the boat can be sent from 

 mark to mark, without any fear of losing touch of it. 



It is generally advisable to have always kept in your boat, a piece 

 of thin sheet lead, as well as a hammer and some short copper 

 nails ; as the bottoms of the shallow reaches of some rivers, are 

 covered with unseen sharp pointed snags ; and if you should by 

 chance have the bad luck to run on top of one of these and stove 

 the boat in, it is a great nuisance having to waste a lot of time, 

 trying to ineffectually check the leak with knotted handkerchiefs 

 plastered with mud, &c. ; instead of at once stopping the hole 

 with the proper appliances, should they be in the boat. 



In shooting in creeks, where banks are high, and reeds are 

 big ; always take away the boat's mast and sail. As stepping the 

 mast and hoisting the sail, or stopping the ensign on to the mast- 

 head, makes a good mark for the whereabouts of the boat when 

 you wish to return to it. 



But do not forget, as I did, on rejoining the boat to strike 

 your colours ; and I certainly paid for my stupidity. 



I was endeavouring to get within shot of a sleeping " company " 

 of duck, and for that purpose, poled the boat with great exertion 

 through some enormous reeds ; I came out as I thought right on 



