Chapter XLVII. 



CHINESE FIELD SPORTS.— fContimied.) 



We have again and again had occasion to remark on 

 the immensity of the Chinese Empire and the fact that since 

 it covers areas visited by Arctic cold and torrid heat it 

 ■could hardly fail to be the home of widely differing species 

 of beasts and birds. This is no less true from a hunting 

 than from a scientific point of view. Beasts of the chase 

 are almost as diversified as we have seen the birds to be 

 'but, unfortunately, the mammals, as a whole, have not as 

 yet found either a Swinhoe, a David, or a Styan to devote 

 (himself and his scientific qualifications to them and to them 

 alone. There is ample space for some enthusiast to make 

 a name for all time by filling the gap thus indicated. The 

 ■same remark applies to the reptiles of the Empire, and per- 

 ■haps less so to the insects, which have, however, found in 

 Mr. Donovan a delineator of great ability. 



References in old accounts of hunting in China show 

 how rich the field is. One of the most interesting of these 

 we proceed to quote from Rankin's "Historical Researches," 

 as given in an " Encyclopaedia of Rural Sports" published in 

 the "fifties." "The Chinese Emperor Kamhi" (sic), says the 

 story, "gave a hunting entertainment in his park near Peking 

 to the Russian ambassador. After hunting till nearly four, 

 we came to the top of an artificial hill, where were tents for 

 the Imperial family; after dinner, the Emperor sent to the 

 ambassador to inform him that three tigers would be baited 

 for his amusement; preparations being first made to secure 

 the principal spectators from danger by ranks of guards 

 armed with spears. The first tiger was let out of his cage 

 by a man on a fleet horse, who opened the door by means of 

 a rope, and then rode off. The tiger came out, rolled on the 

 grass, then growled, and walked about. The Emperor fired 

 bullets with his matchlock, but was too distant: he then 

 sent the Russian ambassador to try his gun, who advan- 

 cing within ten paces, shot the tiger dead. The second 

 tiger was then let out, and rolled on the grass like the 

 first. A man, to rouse him to action, shot at him with a 

 blunt arrow. He pursued the man, who narrowly escaped 

 by the fleetness of his horse, and the tiger attempted 



