202 MY SOMALI BOOK 



human eye. And, in the second place, the longer the 

 range the greater the deviation of the bullet from the 

 right path on account of the slightest error in aim or 

 unsteadiness in the rifle. But I am not aware that as 

 a buck increases his distance he increases his size : 

 and what an indistinct mark he presents under almost 

 any conditions as compared with a bull's-eye target ! 



No doubt this difficulty can in part be remedied 

 under suitable conditions by the use of a telescopic 

 sight. But the odds in my opinion are alread}^ so far 

 on the side of the hunter, that personally I would 

 deprecate the use of any such adventitious aids, unless 

 in the case of failing eyesight. 



If one's rifle is a really powerful one, such that a 

 hit on almost anj^ part of an animal's body is likel}- to 

 kill or disable it ; if the light is of the best ; and if 

 one has a horse or dogs with which to ride or run it 

 down if wounded, it may, under exceptional circum- 

 stances, be permissible to take a shot at 400 or 500 

 yards. But, as a general rule, no shot ought to be 

 considered justifiable unless there is a reasonable 

 chance of scoring a kill. Such reasonable chance does 

 not ordinarily exist at over 300 yards range, especially 

 with a running shot, whatever the rifle ; and when 

 possible, 250 yards should be the limit : this in the 

 open plain. One should usually be able to get closer 

 where there is cover, and if one can get closer without 

 disturbing the game, one should make a point of doing 

 it. A further reason for doing so lies in the com- 

 parative unsteadiness that is at times produced by 

 hard work under a tropical sun. 



Anj'Way that is my opinion, for what it maj' be 



