Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-04-03
HUNTING IN CHINA.
SOME OF THE PLEASURES AND DRAW
BACKS OF THE SPORT.

BACKS OF THE SPORT.
Dogs Afflicted In Many ways-But withal
There Is Considerable Fine Game-De-
scription of Hawking-The Chinese Not
Much Given to the Chase.
Foreigners have found much sport in
hunting in China, and much sorrow too.
Those who have brought fine dogs out
with them complain 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 others become deaf from a
grass seed that gets in their ears, or lame
from a seed that works its 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.
There is another trouble il most parts
of China, and that is in a land like this,
where armies almost raise from the
ground when one stamps his foot, it is
dangerous to shoot. for no one knows
just how many luckless 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, wood
cock, quail and pheasants are killed.
These SpOrtsmen are not missionaries,
but sailors and merchants. Some mis-
sionaries. 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 pleasure
of what perhaps would be very hard
and unpleasant journey.
The Chinese can hardly be called hunt
ers, although the emperors and wealthy
men of leisure have always shown some
taste for the chase. Three miles south of
Picking there is walled imperial hunt
ing park, which is some 80 miles in cir
conference. 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 his
tory tells us of some famous hunters and
fishermen. But the Chinese are by no
means given to the chase as a rule. per-
haps because the people are too busy,
and partly because the sale and manu-
facture Of firearms are restricted.
During the winter season we can buy
all the ducks, pheasants and rabbits we
want. They are caught in traps, driven
into a net, caught with dogs or shot with
a gun. There is other game-the musk
wolf and the fox The first is sought for
its fur and also for the fine hair in its
tail, which is used in the Chinese writ
ing brushes. The last named animal
the fox-is Il sacred animal. 1t is be-
ieved to be able to perform many Won
.derful things. among others to change
its body into human form. to cure dis
ease, and also to do much evil. The shy
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 be-
lieve that it displeases his majesty very
much. The animal is worshiped. | have
seen intelligent men in Picking burn in
cense and bow down TO worship it. But
for all that his sacredness does not al
ways save his skin, and after that has
gone his divinity has deprecated in
value. have large and beautiful fox
skin overcoat purchased from a China
man for SIG, which could not be bought
for $40 at home. The wolves are sought
for their skins too. They collect in such
numbers around this city sometimes rs
to be dangerous to man and beast.
Hawking, like that of the middle ages,
is practiced here by the men Of leisure.
Travelling through this country one Of
ten 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 manageable. They are
kept i'll fine condition. and if IL feather
happens to fall out of the birds tail dur
ing the time he is most used it is re-
placed, for the Chinese believe that the
flight of bird or at least his move
ment to right or left or rapid descent
depends much Oh the tail. Let us i'm
agine our party starting out for days
sport mounted on horses, men dressed in
long flowing garments, with dogs, whip
in one hand and the hawk upon the left |
arm or shoulder. They do not leave
some feudal castle with gates and walls |
and awbridges, but some uninviting
one story building The dogs, which |
are we'll trained as we'll as the hawks, |
are tied so they cannot run about us they |
please and spoil the fun. Away they go
across the fields with no fences to bother.
They ride where they please and as fast |
as they please.
When rabbit jumps up, the fun be-
gins. The dogs and hawk are let loose. |
Then, with whoop and hurrah, heEer
SHELTER, away go horse, rider and rabbit, |
who outruns them all. But at this time
the hawk makes swoop down upon its
prey, and with its talons gives the poor
victim blow that knocks it down. The !
rider and dogs are still in hot pursuit. !
The hawk rises in the air and then makes I
another swoop down upon the rabbit,
much to the delight of the sportsman,
and knocks the poor animal a-whirling.
But the rabbit is soon up and at it again,
but is soon foiled by the bird and caught !
by the dogs. The bird returns to its
masters arms to wait until another rab-
bit, or hare, for they are more properly
hares, is sighted, and then the run be-
gins again. Sometimes the rabbit or
hare, seeing the odds are against him,
prefers to fight rather than to run.-Cor.