86 HUNTING THE TAKIN 



means. I make an earnest appeal to all travellers, 

 and especially to our cousins " across the pond," 

 not to ruin China as many other countries have 

 been ruined from a sporting point of view. A sum 

 of money represents to the native of the interior at 

 least ten times its value in our eyes. Everything 

 is cheap, where eggs and peaches are sixteen a 

 penny ! It is the greatest possible mistake to pay 

 European prices or to tip on a Western scale, 

 only exhibiting the one who does so as a person to 

 be marked down for loot, and spoiling the market 

 for the next comer. 



