CHAPTER XVI. 



HUNTING AND STALKING ON PLAINS. 



The Great Plains Regions. Fundamental Differences between Forest 

 and Plains Hunting. Distant Objects seen on Great Plains. The Red 

 Indian "Sign Language." Red Indian Prairie Guides and Scouts. 

 Keen Sight of Native Dwellers on Plains. Field Glasses as Aids to 

 Vision. Binoculars as Night Glasses. Searching for Game with Glasses. 

 Peculiarities of the Plains Atmosphere. Its Effect on Rifle Shooting. 

 Judging Distances in Plains. Across Water. Mirage. Preternaturally 

 Clear Air. Optical Illusions. Effects of Dust Clouds. Tropical Haze. 

 Effects of the'se Phenomena on Shooting. Value of Practice with Pea 

 Rifles. Morris Tubes. Target Practice. British Soldiers and Boers at 

 the Targets. Target Practice will not of itself make a Good Game 

 Shot. The First Approach to a Great Game Country. Travelling and 

 Hunting on the March. Running Game with Horses. Loading and 

 Firing from Horseback. The Prairie Indians and the Chase of the 

 Buffalo. The Old Indian Bow and Arrow as a Sporting Weapon. 

 An Indian "Buffalo Surround." George Catlin on the "Great Fall 

 Hunts." Indian Trade Guns and Gun Accidents. Serious Nature of 

 Falls from Horses Running Buffalo. The Number of Horses Required 

 by one Hunter for a Season's " Running Game " in South Africa. 

 Salted Horses and the African Horse Sickness. The Running and the 

 Stalking System. Mr. Gordon Cumming's Opinion. Uncertainty of 

 Shots fired from Galloping Horses. Game and the Sound of Firearms. 

 Riding up to Large Herds of Game. Horses Standing Fire. Securing 

 Restive Horses. Value of Steadiness in Remounting. Blindfolding 

 Restive Horses. Horses Running Off after a Fall. Grass-fed and 

 Corn-fed Horses. Unshod Horses for Travellers' Use. Horses on the 

 March. Docility of Horses in a Wild Country. Sick Horses Coming 

 to their Master's Tent for Help. Horses in Mosquito-stricken Districts. 

 Horses at Night. Their Confidence in the Human Watchman. Neces- 

 sity of never Relaxing Vigilance in Securing Horses. Horses as Night 

 Guards. Approach of Dawn. Preparations for a Day's Hunting. 

 "Chota Hazree." Observations of the State of the Weather. Native 

 Guides. Drinking-water in Waterless Districts. Personal Comfort on 

 Hunting Expeditions. After-riders and Native Followers. Mr. Gordon 

 Cumming on Comfort in the Field. "Alforjas." Carrying Guns on 

 Horseback. Cavalry Carbines. Mr. Gallon's Namagua Bucket. Falls 

 and Broken Gun Stocks. Dented Gun Barrels. Hunting in the Early 

 Morning. Native Trackers. Trails in Wet Grass. Marks upon the 



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