Sporting Notes in the Far East. 145 



towards the river ; the last marsh comes to an end close to a large 

 mud fort built within a quarter of a mile of the river, and after 

 reaching this it is useless going any further; so the sportsman should 

 turn back, and walk home by way of the long black wood growing 

 in the plain, called by the residents the " Bois de Boulogne." 



When snipe are in season, in the months of May and September, 

 I think the Village marsh, i.e. the swamp close by the village where 

 you land, will be found the best ; the number of birds arriving 

 depending chiefly on the amount of rain that has fallen, and 

 consequently on the state of the ground. 



In October, the other marshes BEFORE the reeds are cut, some- 

 times hold a fair number of duck, but the sport obtained again 

 depends solely on the weather ; as on one day I have quartered 

 these marshes through and through, finding them perfectly forsaken, 

 and on again going over the same ground forty-eight hours later, 

 after a strong nor westerly gale, have discovered the reeds full up 

 with tired duck, who have been caught in the breeze, and have had 

 a good buffeting about out at sea. 



During the five winter months, from October to the beginning of 

 March, huge flocks of Bean Geese repair nightly to these marshes 

 to feed ; but the only way to get at them is to be out at their 

 feeding ground before daylight, and then a shot or two will be 

 obtained when they fly out to seek the security that the ocean 

 affords. 



