84 SOUTH AFRICA. 



by experiment with a '360 rifle charged with 40 

 grains of powder and a projectile of 200 grains. 

 Upon the whole I have found it better to arm 

 any of the "boys" who may have the wish or 

 ability to shoot with plain single-barrel smooth- 

 bore guns ; with rifles they get into the habit of 

 blazing away at all kinds of distances and waste 

 ammunition : besides, by giving them a shot 

 cartridge or two, they often bring in a toothsome 

 bird for the larder when one is satiated with 

 dry antelope meat Such guns can be bought for 

 about $, and should be sighted for ball shooting 

 up to one hundred yards. 



A day's shooting now and then serves to stave 

 off the sulks a complaint to which all Africans 

 are liable, especially when lying idly encamped 

 for some time, with little to do but smoke in the 

 intervals unemployed in gorging themselves to 

 repletion. 



In ordering guns or rifles for rough work, the 

 maker should be persuaded to make the hand grip 

 considerably thicker than usual, and it should be 

 oval instead of round. Personally, I dislike a 

 pistol hand grip, as being superfluous and tending 

 to impede the hand when the left barrel is wanted 

 in haste for a double shot 



