To return, after a long digression.

The age of manly sport, as above described, has long passed away; and the only hope is for a revival under the changing conditions of modern China.

Some few athletic exercises have survived; and until recently, archery, in which the Tartars have always excelled, was regarded almost as a semi-divine accomplishment.

Kite-flying has reached a high level of skill.

Clever little "messengers" have been devised, which run up the string, carrying fire-crackers which explode at a great height.