124 Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



And when at this unrivalled period of the day, one tramps 

 through a slowly awakening village, on the way to some favourite 

 shooting ground, and meets the stoic labourer, turning out with 

 his cart (of the same pattern as his ancestors possessed in the days of 

 Noah), to pursue his even way towards his daily labour in the fields, 

 one cannot help thinking how rightly this curious and ancient 

 race have dubbed their heritage "The Land of the Morning 

 Calm." 



As I remarked before, the late autumn and the early spring, are 

 the best times for shooting ; and during the months of October, 

 November, March, and April, a good lot of duck, a few geese, and 

 a moderate number of pheasants, quail and pigeons, may be made 

 certain of. Snipe are not usually in before the beginning of May, 

 and the end of August. 



The whole country around Chemulpho, consists of low grass- 

 covered hills, intersected by long cultivated valleys of rice. After 

 the autumn crop of paddy is cut, the fields are all flooded, to 

 cleanse and enrich the soil for next year's crop ; and in this state 

 they remain, till the Corean squire commences to make them into 

 mud pies, prior to the spring sowing. 



When in quest of duck, they will be all found in these water- 

 covered fields, and can be seen from the higher ground, long 

 before your own presence is discovered. 



To get within shot, you must trust entirely to skillful stalking in 



