2l6 SHOOTING IN CHINA 



in the same manner and with similar 

 ingredients as in western nations, but with 

 about five per cent more of saltpeter and 

 with a little less sulphur and charcoal. It 

 is imperfectly granulated and is slow 

 burning. The priming powder is made by 

 moistening a quantity of the ordinary 

 charging powder with alcohol and rework- 

 ing it, drying and pulverizing it very 

 finely. The powder horn is also fashioned 

 by the hand of the shooter. He gets the 

 horn of a water-buffalo, saws off the small 

 end, and with the remainder he fashions a 

 horn for his powder holding from a half to 

 one pound. For general shooting the 

 charge of powder is measured in a tube and 

 somewhat heavier than the charge used for 

 an Enfield rifle. The bullets are made of 

 fine lead cast in bamboo tubes about six in- 

 ches long and a little larger in diameter than 

 the bore of the gun. The lead is then roll- 

 ed between two boards until it is reduced to 

 proper diameter. It is then cut in lengths of 

 four diameters each for bullets and one 

 diameter for slugs, so each bullet is equal to 

 four slugs. These leaden bolts or bullets 

 and slugs carry farther than spherical bullets 

 or slugs because, being the diameter of the 



