Sporting Notes in the Far East. 189 



Emperor has had made, and the rifled guns that he has mounted 

 therein ; you cannot help realizing what vast strides have been 

 made in the " Flowery Land," since the first pronounced advent 

 of the " red-haired foreign devils," fifty years ago. 



When at Canton, I had the honour of joining a party invited by 

 our Admiral, (who had himself fought in '56), to inspect some of 

 these forts : many of which were stormed and taken by cur Naval 

 Brigades during the last war ; and amongst others, we went over the 

 Fatshan Cantonments and a most interesting visit it was ! 



These forts are now all in ruins, but we could still make out how 

 the Celestials practical nation that they are had only made 

 provision for their stronghold being attacked from the front, never 

 grasping for one moment the possibility of their being harassed 

 from behind. Of course being acquainted with the construction 

 of the fortress, the latter tactics were just the ones pursued ; the 

 unsuspecting " pigtails " bein taken in the rear, were themselves 

 bundled headlong over the breeches of the very guns, from the 

 muzzles of which, they had fondly expected to blow the majority 

 of the British force into the next world. 



Great was their disgust ! and it is still a saying amongst the older 

 inhabitants, (presumably on account of our strategy), that "English- 

 man no fightee ploper ! " 



However, our ruses de guerre were not always so successful ; for 

 during one assault later on, the tables were so decidedly turned, 



