chap. in. THE FOUR-OUNCE DOES SERVICE. 55 



and, quitting the shores of the lake, we started for 

 breakfast. 



It was only 8 A.M. when we arrived. I had bagged 

 five buffaloes, four of which were fine bulls. Our re- 

 venge was complete, and I had proved that the four- 

 ounce was perfectly irresistible if held straight with 

 the heavy charge of twelve drachms of powder. Since 

 that time I have frequently used sixteen drachms (one 

 ounce) of powder to the charge, but the recoil is then 

 very severe, although the effect upon an animal with 

 a four-ounce steel-tipped conical ball is tremendous. 



On our return to the village of Minneria we found 

 a famous breakfast, for which a bath in the neighbour- 

 ing brook increased an appetite already sharpened by 

 the morning exercise. The buffalo steaks were coarse 

 and bad, as tough as leather, and certainly should 

 never be eaten if better food can be obtained. The 

 tongues are very rich, but require salting. 



In those days Minneria was not spoiled by visitors, 

 and supplies were accordingly at a cheap rate — large 

 fowls at one penny each, milk at any price that you 

 chose to give for it. This is now much changed, and 

 the only thing that is still ridiculously cheap is fish. 



Give a man sixpence to catch you as many as he 

 can in the morning, and he forthwith starts on his 

 piscatorial errand with a large basket, cone shaped, 

 of two feet diameter at the bottom and about eight 



