308 MY SOMALI BOOK 





velocity rifle appears to have almost too high a velocity 

 for sporting purposes. Throughout a considerable 

 experience it has been noted that, although actually 

 conveying less damage to the animal struck, the slower 

 travelling ordinary Express bullet — and, in still greater 

 degree the Paradox bullet — knocks doivn an animal; 

 whereas the cordite rifle appears rather to numb its 

 victim with the extraordinary velocity of its projectile, 

 which seems to lose knocking down power in an impact 

 which is so sudden and penetrative. 



" There seems to be less chance of an animal event- 

 ually getting away when hit by a high velocity rifle ; 

 but the slower travelling bullet rolls a beast over, at 

 least temporarily, and enables one to put in more 

 shooting before it can regain its legs. Dynamics 

 appear to bear out our argument. It is the knock- 

 down push or blow that is so useful in that short second 

 of time when a man may be reached by a brute thirsty 

 for his blood ; and that this is best conveyed by a 

 handy ball and shot gun seems incontestable." 



I have dealt with this subject at what may seem 

 inordinate length. But though much has been written 

 about it, I am not aware of the existence of a detailed 

 and up-to-date analysis of the "pros and cons of the 

 question such as I have attempted here, and which 

 I venture to hope may be found of some value to those 

 interested, and especially to the inexperienced sports- 

 man. Mr. Hicks has indeed made a valuable contri- 

 bution to the subject, to which I am indebted, but his 

 point of view is somewhat prejudiced, and he ignores 

 entirely that most valuable weapon the ball-and-shot 

 gun, while his final conclusion as to the absolute 



