i go Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



that the enemy captured several guns in return ; fortunately these 

 happened to be some of the early pattern breechloaders, and 

 naturally when we retreated, the vent-heads were removed and 

 carried to the rear ; thus rendering the guns perfectly useless for 

 present service. The result was very funny. Up rushed the 

 Chinamen flushed with success ; but as it will be seen, their triumph 

 (if so it may be called) was indeed short lived, they had never 

 before seen a weapon made with a clear passage right through, from 

 breech to muzzle ; at once arose the doubt how to fire the gun ; 

 someone wisely suggested that the shot might fly out from either 

 end, and then if the wrong one, perhaps kill them all ; a panic 

 ensued, and finally the brave captors voted their prizes infernal 

 machines, and with one accoru bolted, leaving the battery to be 

 re-taken at leisure later on in the day. 



As regards Canton itself, I think it is generally set down as a 

 disappointing place ; but I imagine that a sea-faring mind would be 

 much impressed by the stupendous floating population of the city, 

 the units of vhich are born, live, and eventually die, on the " pea 

 soup " waters of the Chu-Kiang. Fortunately for these amphibious 

 people ; typhoons through being deflected by the high surround- 

 ing hills seldom reach as far inland as Canton ; but when they 

 do, the number of lives lost through drowning seems almost 

 incredible. 



Speaking under correction, I believe I am right in stating that 



