22 GOLDEN PHEASANTS 
heads that this would bring luck to the foreigners, and 
they therefore, at considerable expense, built a joss- 
house on a hill of nearly as great an altitude, situated 
about a mile from the town at the back of the settle- 
ment (taking care that the top of the joss-house should 
be higher than the top of the hill on the other side of 
the river), in order to transfer the good luck to their 
city. From this joss-house a beautiful view of the city, 
settlement, and surrounding country is obtained. 
Numbers of Golden Pheasants can be purchased in 
the autumn. They are brought to market in cages 
much too small for them, and in consequence their 
plumage is greatly damaged. As I wished to keep 
some till they had moulted and attained their full 
beauty, I had an aviary built, into which, when com- 
pleted, I turned about fifteen couple, which I had 
bought at the cost of about 400 cash, or say two shil- 
lings, the pair. A heavy fall of snow unfortunately 
broke the roof in and many escaped, the remainder 
being killed by stoats, which are very numerous and 
exceedingly audacious. No place appeared safe from 
them, for they would steal chickens frequently from the 
house, and even if my boat was alongside the bank with 
the gangboard out, would come on board to forage. 
A large species of sturgeon, Psephurus gladius, may 
be seen exposed for sale in sections in the city, the flesh 
