n8 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON chap. vi. 



I had loaded with the conical ball. This, although it 

 will penetrate much farther through a thick substance 

 than a round bail, is not so effective in elephant- 

 shooting as the latter. The reason is plain enough. 

 No shot in the head will kill an elephant dead unless 

 it passes through the brain ; an ounce ball will effect 

 this as well as a six-pound shot ; but there are many 

 cases where the brain cannot be touched, by a peculiar 

 method of carrying the head and trunk in charging, 

 etc. ; a power is then required that by the concus- 

 sion will knock him down, or turn him ; this power is 

 greater in the round ball than in the conical, as a 

 larger surface is suddenly struck. The effect is simi- 

 lar to a man being run through the arm with a rapier 

 or thrust at with a poker — the rapier will pass through 

 him almost without his knowledge, but the poker will 

 knock him down. Thus the pointed conical ball will, 

 perhaps, pass through an elephant's forehead and 

 penetrate as far as his shoulders, but it will produce 

 no immediate effect. For buffalo-shooting the coni- 

 cal ball is preferable, as with the heavy charge of 

 powder that I use it will pass completely through him 

 from end to end. A four-ounce ball, raking an ani- 

 mal from stem to stern, must settle him at once. This 

 is a desirable thing to accomplish with wild buffaloes, 

 as they may frequently prove awkward customers, 

 even after receiving several mortal wounds from light 

 guns. 



