2io Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



By burning the bracken fern and exposing the roots, or by roast- 

 ing the pith of a sago palm, common enough in Borneo, pig may be 

 tempted out into the open : but a dead body is by far the most attrac- 

 tive bait, and tickles their carnivorous propensities. Even this will 

 seldom procure a shot in the daytime, and if this style of sport be 

 carried out by moonlight, an old snider carbine with bayonet fixed 

 is the safest weapon if procurable. Pricking about in high fern for 

 a wounded and savage old boar, by the flickering and uncertain 

 light of a young moon through the palm leaves, must be experienced 

 to be enjoyed. Exciting is a poor way of describing it. 



Argus pheasant, jungle-fowl, a lesser bustard, and numerous 

 varieties of pigeon are procurable at the various anchorages on the 

 coast of Borneo. Snipe and golden plover abound in some places 

 where swamps prove attractive, but wild-fowl proper there are none. 

 Good flighting can however be enjoyed at parrots and cockatoos, 

 both of which when fed on wild figs and jungle nuts are excellent 

 eating. One evening at Maimbun Sooloo I killed 17 parrots 

 9 cockatoos, and 7 pigeon of sorts to my own gun at sunset. 



So much for the sport to be obtained on the coast of Borneo, 

 hoping these rough notes may be of service to you in your book 

 on China, a book much wanted by Naval men on that Station. 

 I remain, yours sincerely, 



DAYRELL DAVIES, Lieut. R.N. 

 H.M.S. "Rodney," 1889. 



