414 AFRICAN RESEARCHES. 



Although we cannot, like Captain Harris, boast of an initi- 

 ation into the mysteries of powder and shot at the early age 

 of six, yet, from a moderate share of experience in the use of 

 explosive weapons, were we ever placed in such a predica- 

 ment, that to save our own bacon, a rhinoceros must be de- 

 spatched by a single shot, we should certainly feel at a loss 

 which alternative to select, as attended with the least diffi- 

 culty of accomplishment, — that of sending a bullet through 

 the back-bone of the animal when quietly browsing on the 

 mimosa-leaves, at a respectful distance of forty yards, or al- 

 lowing it to make its rush, and when ploughing with its horn 

 the ground at our feet, 1 chancing a ball through one of its 

 sky-lights. 



Of the many things which excited the surprise of our au- 

 thor in the course of his peregrinations, on no occasion does 

 he express himself in stronger terms of amazement than on 

 learning that it was possible to make a barrel throw a ball 

 straight, when it had previously shot crooked. As he has 

 stated, for the benefit of his fellow officers in Her Majesty's 

 service, how this piece of conjuration was brought about by 

 the natives, we shall take the liberty of availing ourselves of 

 the information, for the benefit of such of our readers, who, 

 being " field naturalists, " are necessarily interested in the art 

 of gunnery. — 



" This was effected "by placing a second sight near the breech, which was 

 raised or depressed, shifted from one side to the other, and then fixed when 

 the ball was found to go straight to the mark." 



We have read few passages in the present narrative with 

 more satisfaction than the following : — 



" Here I beg to remark that during the whole journey nothing was kill- 

 ed wantonly, or that we did not positively require, either as an article of 

 food, or as a rare object of natural history. I never could, and I trust I 

 never shall, reconcile myself to the notion which some sportsmen entertain, 

 that it is manly to destroy as many animals as one can : this thirst for blood 

 is discreditable. The exploit of which I know some to boast, viz., killing 

 four elephants in one day, or the same number of Hippopotami, with the 

 same gun, for mere sport, is surely not praiseworthy." 



With a keen relish for the legitimate sports of the field, we 

 certainly do not envy the feelings of the man who can derive 

 enjoyment from seeing the plain strewn with the carcasses of 



1 May we request that Captain Harris or Sir James Alexander would 

 have the kindness to state, through our own columns, or those of some other 

 Natural-History periodical, what the rhinoceros does with its nose, when 

 at full speed, ploughing up the ground with its horns. 



