672
miles the road is good and of an easy gradient. When about half the way up you leave the main path for a sort of coolie track on the right, thereby making straight for what appears to be the summit. An hour's steady climb will undeceive you, as you will suddenly discover a further height apparently only a few hundred yards above. This is the final summit, having a little flat top about one acre in extent. The elevation here is nearly 1,200 feet above anything in the immediate neighbourhood, hence the view in all directions is unsurpassed. Tiffin should now be partaken of and after an hour's rest the descent may be commenced down the eastern slope of the hill through the village of Lam-Fong-To until the rocky bed of a stream is reached with several pretty cataracts as we proceed. We are soon again amongst the patches of cultivated soil on the hill sides, and shortly find ourselves in the village, where, if time permits, some native industries may be inspected. A dip from the launch if the water is not too cold will prove refreshing before steaming away for Hongkong.
PROGRAMME No. 4.
Proceed over night to Deep Bay by steam-launch accompanied by a sampan and a small punt or dingy. Instruct steam-launch as to destination. Land at daybreak on the southern shore as near as possible to the village of San Wai which is situated close to a low hill and is well shaded by banyan trees. The very extensive paddy fields in this neighbourhood afford excellent cover for snipe, which in the early season are abundantly plentiful. Follow the beaten track skirting the many villages, direction almost due south, and with shooting all the way, you will, in a few hours, find yourself on the shores of Castle Peak Bay where your steam-launch should be in readiness to convey you back to Hongkong.
PROGRAMME No. 5.
This is one of the longest and most important trips and should not be undertaken unless one is thoroughly fit.
Proceed by steam-launch, or having due regard to the tide, by Hakka boat accompanied by sampan, to Deep Bay, approaching as near to the head of the bay as soundings will allow. Rise at daybreak and after a substantial meal and the necessary arrangements for a like substantial tiffin to be consumed en route land from the sampan at the head of the first creek in the river on your right, about one mile from the entrance. Shooting begins immediately with water fowl; curlew, plover, duck, teal, and sometimes geese. Snipe are always to be found from August until March, and spring snipe even later. Having secured the quantum of such as the river, marshes and paddy fields have to offer, we must now strike inland, making for the nearest village, Maipo, where we may, if the season is well advanced add a few pigeons to the bag. From this point our tramp begins, skirting the base of the hills on our left and passing from village to village giving to each a modicum of our time and attention. About 10 o'clock should bring us to the ancient walled market town of Kam-Tin-Ho, a very formidable looking place, well situated in the centre of an extensive and beautiful valley. Here a halt might be called for half an hour. From this point, we proceed leisurely so as to tiffin at Ma-On-Kong which place we leave at 3 o'clock following the telegraph wires over the hills, until about 5.30 should find us in Tsin Wan, one hour from Hongkong by steam launch. A dip if there is time completes the trip.
672
miles the road is good and of an easy gradient. When about half the way up you leave the main path for a sort of coolie track on the right, thereby making straight for what appears to be the summit. An hours steady elimb will undeceive you, as you will suddenly discover a further height apparently only a few hundred yards above. This is the final summit, having a little flat top about one acre in extent. The elevation here is nearly 1,200 feet above anything in the immediate neighbour- hood, hence the view in all directions is unsurpassed. Tiffin should now be partaken of and after an hours' rest the descent may be commenced down the eastern slope of the hill through the village of Lam-Fong-To until the rocky bed of a stream is reached with several pretty cataracts as we proceed. We are soon again amongst the patches of cultivated soil on the hill sides. and shortly find ourselves in the village, where, if time permits, some native industries may be inspected. A dip from the launch if the water is not too cold will prove refreshing before steaming away for Hongkong.
PROGRAMME No. 4.
Proceed over night to Deep Bay by steam-launch accompanied by a sampan and a small punt or dingy. Instruct steam-launch as to destination. Land at day break on the southern shore as near as possible to the village of San Wai which is situated close to a low hill and is well shaded by banyan trees. The very exten- sive paddy fields in this neighbourhood afford excellent. cover for snipe, which in the early season are abundantly plentiful. Follow the beaten track skirting the many villages, direction almost due south, and with shooting all the way, you will, in a few hours, find yourself on the shores of Castle Peak Bay where your steam-launch should be in readiness to convey you back to Hongkong.
PROGRAMME No. 5.
This is one of the longest and most important trips and should not be undertaken unless one is thoroughly fit.
Proceed by steam-launch, or having due regard to the tide, by Hakka boat accompanied by sampan, to Deep Bay, approaching as near to the head of the bay as soundings will allow. Rise at daybreak and after a substantial meal and the necessary arrangements for a like substantial tiffin to be consumed en route land from the sampan at the head of the first creek in the river ou your right, about one mile from the entrance. Shooting begins immediately with water fowl; curlew, plover, duck, teal, and sometimes geese. Snipe are always to be found from August until March, and spring snipe even later. Having secured the quantum of such as the river, marshes and paddy fields have to offer, we must now strike inland, making for the nearest village, Maipo, where we may, if the season is well advanced add a few pigeons to the bag. From this point our tramp begins, skirting the base of the hills on our left and passing from village to village giving to each a modicum of our time and attention. About 10 o'clock should bring us to the ancient walled market town of Kam-Tin-Ho, a very formidable looking place. well situated in the centre of an extensive and beautiful valley. Here a halt might be called for half an hour. From this point. we proceed leisurely so as to tiffin at Ma-On-Kong which place we leave at 3 o'clock following the telegraph wires over the hills, until about 5.30 should find us in Tsin Wan, one hour from Hongkong by steam launch. A dip if there is time completes the trip.
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