MY SOMALI BOOK 271 



superior in accuracy and ranging-power ; it would 

 tiierefore seem likely to be more generally useful. 



It is necessary, however, to consider in more detail 

 the manner in which the course of a bullet is affected 

 by variations in its form, weight, and velocity, and to 

 see how far such variations may produce effects which 

 we have not yet taken into account, and which might 

 militate against the value of the above conclusion in 

 favour of a light bullet. 



When we have found a sufficiently accurate bullet 

 possessed of the requisite qualities of expansion, it 

 AAOuld only seem necessary to decide upon an adequate 

 standard of striking energy. But let it be assumed 

 that we succeed in obtaining two bullets equally satis- 

 factory as regards expansion, of which one has the 

 advantage in weight and the other in velocity, but 

 which possess an identical amount of striking energy 

 as measured in foot-lbs. It might be supposed that 

 the effect produced by either on any particular animal 

 under given conditions would be substantially the 

 same. But in practice this is far from being the case ; 

 for it is found that the heavier 

 bullet, apart from actual damage 

 done, causes a greater immediate 

 shock to the system, and is 

 therefore more likely to knock 

 down, turn, or otherwise check a ' 



charging beast ; and this is of far greater importance 

 than the fact that, of the two, the wound made by the 

 lighter bullet may in some instances be such as eventu- 

 ally to cause death within a shorter interval. Hence, 

 it would seem that an im'portant element in producing 



