328 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



is best conveyed at close quarters by a handy ball-and- 

 shot gun seems incontestable. The very latest develop- 

 ment in these weapons now gives us a smokeless propellant, 

 greater accuracy and range, and better killing power, due 

 to an improved bullet and increased velocity. 



Among those who set out on shooting expeditions in 

 India each year are many who have little or no per- 

 sonal experience in the pursuit of big game. Most keen 

 men of this description are great consumers of sport- 

 ing literature, more especially of that which bears the 

 character of the reliable text-book from which the rudi- 

 ments at least of big-game shooting may be gleaned. In 

 addition it is usual to find them subscribing to Indian 

 sporting papers. Every man who has a taste for shikar 

 has to pass through a period of more or less apprentice- 

 ship in hunting craft but only a fortunate few with the 

 advantage of a seasoned adviser and it is perfectly natural 

 that during this period they should be largely influenced 

 by what they read. The effect of this ought to be that 

 men whose writings may possibly influence the budding 

 shikari should take particular care to publish nothing with- 

 out careful thought of the possible consequences. 



In some cases the effects of publishing doubtful or 

 erroneous theories may be harmless, resulting in nothing 

 more serious than disappointment to him who unwarily 

 pins his faith thereto, but in others the consequences may 

 have highly dangerous results. 



Every year, as regularly as the shooting season comes 

 round, the tale of disaster is added to ; and every year, 

 until the shooting season ends, do we continue to note the 

 recurrence of accidents to sportsmen usually by the 

 agency of dangerous game. Commonly it is the youthful 

 and inexperienced who come to grief. But occasionally 

 the matured shikari falls a victim ; and in such cases one 

 realises the truth of the adage about " accidents occurring 

 in the best-regulated families " ! 



