Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1875 — A Duck Hunt in Japan. [ARTICLE]

A Duck Hunt in Japan.

An American gentleman traveling in Japan has sent to the New York Evening Post the following account of a duck hunt in which he participated some time ago, some features of which will doubtless strike the American sportsman as novel; “ The other day I went on a wild duck hunt with my interpreter and one guard. We started early, and, proceeding through the rice fields for some distance, crossed a low line of hills lying to the north, and passed up a fertile valley* about four miles. Here was a village where the people had made preparations for a grand duck hunt in anticipation of our coming. Near by was a small lake, snug among the hills and near the base of a mountain, called the ‘Dragon’s Clan.’ “It'was a most picturesque place, with a pine grove skirting the margin of the water, and clumps of bushes and reeds scattered along in various places. The entire surface of the lake was covered with dlieks, while clouds of them hovered over the trees and wheeled to and fro in wild confusion. The whole neighborhood was literally alive with them. “ This lake had long been the resort of ducks, but the people had never allowed, a gun to be fired in the neighborhood, and had contented themselves with now and then catching a few with nets. The consequence was that the ducks had never known What it was to be shot at, and were comparatively tame. When it was known that I was coming there to hunt, the customary order was revoked, and everybody was given permission to come witli his gun and join in the sport. The men had constructed low mounds of pine branches, resembling Esquimaux huts, along the edge of the lake, and at the points most frequented by the fowls. As soon as each one of us got fairly settled, either in a mound or under a tree or bush, we began to blaze away at the innocent ducks, which lay in thick masses before us. As the first shot echoed among the hills a myriad of quacking creatures rose in one great cloud from the surface of the water, and for a time the air was completely filled with them.

“I never before saw such a spectacle; the sky seemed darkened with feathered fugitives, and the noise made by their wings was like that of a mighty, rushing wind. Especially wild was the noise as one flock after another wheeled directly Over my head; then they suddenly turned & short curve, their white breasts flashed fbr a moment in the sun, and the rapid motion of their wings made a breeze like a great fan upon the face. 'Huey had mot learned yet what tlie sound of a gun! meant, and as no person was to be sbfin they ere: long settled again qiiietly on the water “ Another volley soon started them up again, however, and they rose into the air, leaving many of their dead and wounded companions on the surface of the lake. Now their flight became swift and broken mid as they passed close above our heads we fired indiscriminately ihto their midst, causing the flocks to scatter in frightened confusion. The poor things knew not what to do; the lake had always been their quiet home and they knew not whither to flee. So, as none of their cruel enemies were in sight, down they came again upon the death-laden surface Of the waler. They were completely tired out, and as shot after shot skipped along beside them they only ‘ducked’ their heads and remained where they were. The firing continued the whole morning, and the waters around their formerly-peaceful retreat Were reddened with the fruits of the bloody slaughter. “At one time during the day, white somewhat withdrawn from the party, a heard a peculiar ‘ whir-r’ of something in the air, and turning quickly saw a bullet strike the bank beside me. A shower of mud was spattered over me, and at a little distance a Japanese man was in full flight. There was nothing near me for a proper target; and there is little doubt that this was a manifestation of the bitter hostility to all foreigners for which, I have since learned, this neighborhood is noted. At that very time many of the inhabitants had shut themselves up in their houses in fierce rage at the idea of a detested ‘ Tojin’s’ being entertained 1 among them.

“Ashot fired at something (or somebody) else rebounded from a rock and hit a young fellow 5 ; but his painful wound was at once dressed by my guard Meaji, who had dressed more than one wound in the recent civil war here. I gave the best direction I could, and the boy was carried to a native hospital, where he has since died, realty from want of decent medical treatment . But < leath makes very little impression in Japan.” An Eastern journal says that Mark Twain, to have the furniture of his house correspond with its other peculiarities, has ordered a unique chamber-set, made of mahogany with diamond-shaped panels of blue and white china plentifully bespangled, and with heavy blue satin draperies, the whole, of only three pieces, to cost S6OO. Upon which the Virginia (Nev.) Evening Chronicle remarks’: -“If Mark had a proper appreciation of effective contrasts he Would send out here for the old campstretcher and three-legged stool he used to occupy on tick when he lived in Virginia.” \Vilhoft’s Fever and Ago* Tonic.— This medicine is used by construction companies for the benetit of their employes when engaged in malarial districts. The highest testimonials have been given by contractors and by the President* of some of the leading railroads In the South and West When men are congregated in large numbers in'tne neighborhood oi swamps and rivers, Wllhoft’s Tonic will ffrove a valuable addition to the stock of medicines, and will amply reward the Company in the saving of time, labor and money. We recommend it to aIL Wbbklock, Finlay & Co., Proprietors, New Orleans. Fob salb by all Druggists.

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