240 SOUTH AFRICA. 



Gradually but swiftly extinction has supervened, 

 and the Transvaal is no longer a happy hunting 

 ground for any but Jews. With the virtual 

 extermination of the larger kinds of game in the 

 Transvaal, the Boers in a great measure ceased 

 the pursuit of the scattered remnants of the 

 survivors, and soon became but little interested in 

 keeping up their efficiency as riflemen. 



As a matter of fact, since the general introduction 

 of long-range, breechloading weapons, their shoot- 

 ing powers have steadily deteriorated, and from 

 having been as a rule fairly good rough performers, 

 the younger members of this generation have ceased 

 to take any interest in field sports, and as regards 

 rifle shooting are mere duffers. Indeed, ever since 

 the modern rifle came into general use in the 

 Transvaal, the Boers have gradually lost that 

 amount of skill as shootists upon which their 

 prestige was founded in former days. 



The extreme ease with which breechloading 

 rifles can be loaded, and the long range of these 

 weapons, contributed largely to the deterioration 

 of their original skill by inducing habits of care- 

 lessness as to distances, and a preference for 

 pumping a stream of lead into the " brown " 



