BOER MARKSMANSHIP. 245 



game, with the exception of the obese eland, also 

 counts for much in extenuation of the small bags 

 as compared with the ammunition expended in 

 obtaining them, and all I wish to make clear is that 

 the Boers are by no means the marvellous riflemen 

 they are supposed to be, although in their way good 

 enough to compare favourably in shooting powers 

 with the brave but inept British Tommy Atkins, 

 and that every day they are "going off" their 

 shooting, for the reasons given above, inclusive of 

 the fact that the cost of modern rifle ammunition 

 militates against sufficient practice with their 

 weapons for the mere purpose of keeping up to the 

 mark as rifle experts. 



The extermination of game in and near the 

 Transvaal has also reduced the majority of the 

 poorer and more efficient burghers to the position 

 of unskilled labourers too hard pressed to keep 

 the wolf from the door to afford leisure for the 

 practice of rifle shooting, and they may now be 

 fairly considered as " out of it " as regards anything 

 approaching exceptional skill as marksmen. 



My opinion in these respects is, I think, cor- 

 roborated by the results of their fire in the late 

 combat with Dr. Jameson's raiders. On this 



