The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-15
HUNTING IN CHINA.
Some of the Pleasures and Drawbacks OF
the Sport in the Celestial Empire.

Foreigners have found much sport in
hunting in China and much sorrow,
too, writes a CORRESPONDENT in the Louis
vile Courier Journal. Those who have
brought fine dogs out with them com
plain that their dogs die of the mango
from having to wade through dirty
streams and ponds. Some die from what
is called worms in the heart, while 9TH
ers become deaf from grass seed that
gets in their ears, or lame from; a seed
that works it's way into the foot and up
into the leg before it comes out. Last,
not least, if care is not taken the poor
beast is nearly eaten up with ticks. AS
for the hunters, they complain bitterly
of mosquitoes.
A writer of authority, Lieut.. Cradock
of the royal navy, gives this description
of an unfortunate in these northern
wilds: His face is but one swollen
mass. his eyes infiamed and hardly to be
seen beneath the burning and tortured
es elids this swollen mouth and nostrils
covered with sores" There is another
trouble in most parts of China, and that
is in land like this, where armies al
most raise from the ground when one
stamps his foot, it is dangerous to shoot,
for no one knows just how many luck
less Cinnamon may be in range OF the
gun, though perhaps none at that time
may be seen; but for all that, fine bags
of duck, geese, snipe, bustard (China's
wild turkey woodcock, quail and
pheasants are killed. These sportsmen
are not missionaries, but sailors and
merchants. Some missionaries, when
passing through these regions, leave
their Jolly carts and lay in a fine supply
of duck and bustard for their families,
and thus make a pleasure of what per-
haps would be a very hard and unpleas-
ant journey. The Chinese can hardly
be called hunters, although the Emper
ors and wealthy men of leisure have
always shown some taste for the chase.
Three miles south of Peking there is
walled imperial hunting park, which
is some SO miles in circumference. 1t
contains large meadows stocked with
antelope. deer and rabbits. In the park
there is one species OF deer that is not
known to exist in any other part of the
globe. Chinese ancient history tells us
Of some famous hunters and fishermen
One Kiang Tsze va was not only fam
Gus angler, but withal righteous man.
1t is said the Iish recognized his virtues
and though he fished with straight
bar of iron, the fish voluntarily impaled
themselves upon it. 1t is useless to say
there are few such men or fish in these
days. But the Chinese are by no means
given to the chase as a rule, perhaps be-
cause the people are too busy, and partly
because the sale and manufacture of
fire arms is restricted.
During the winter season we can buy
Il, al y,1,a r1fc md roh h fc
want. These are caught in traps, driven
into net, caught with dogs, or shot
with gun. There is other game-the
musk wolf and the OK. The first is
sought for it's fur and also for the fine
hair in lis tail, which is used in the
Chinese writing brushes. The last named
animal, the fox, is q sacred animal. 1t
is believed TO be able to change it's body
into human form, to cure disease and
also to do much evil. The sly old fox,
there is no telling what he may do. The
Chinese never write the name OF the fox
if they can help it, for they believe that
it displeases his majesty very much
This animal is worshipped.. have seen
intelligent men in Peking burn incense,
and bow down to worship it. But for
all that his sacredness does not always
save his skin, and after that has gone
his divinity has deprecated in value
more than silver has during these hard
times have large and beautiful fox
skin overcoat purchased from china
for $40 at home. The wolves are sought
for their skins, too. They collect in
such numbers around this city some
times as to be dangerous to man and
beast.
y Speaking of the wolf reminds me of
picture I purchased some time ago.
bought it because l thought it was the !
:ok, T hoA 7 k,,s1
to find out the history or meaning of the
thing for some time without any success,
until few days ago, while studying
Taoism. / found the ugly man was one
of the Taoist gods. In his early days his
spirit had the power of leaving his body
and roaming over the universe alone.
When off on one of these trips wolves
spirit returned it found only few bones. |
After hunting around for while the |
spirit found the body of a dead hunchack I
beggar, who walked with an iron cane
in this life time. The spirit crawled in
this hody and has lived in it ever since. |
Tih Kwalei, for that is the gods name,
carries gourd on his back. which, if |
the breath were blown out of it in the |
heavens, would bring back his original
body. According to last accounts the !
breath has not flown out of the gourd. |
Hawking, like that of the middle ages, |
is practised here by the men of leisure. |
Travelling through this country one
often sees a man in the villages and |
towns with a savage looking hawk on
his arm. These birds are trained for the
chase and become perfectly managea Bile.
They are kept in fine condition, and If a
feather happens to fall out of the birds
tail during the time he is most used it is
replaced. for the Chinese believe that the |
flight of bird or at least his move |
m enfs To RIGHT or left or rand descentS |