A SEASON'S AFRICAN HUNTING STUD. 225 



successful tramp. Men going into Africa for shooting should 

 be very careful in the selection of their mounts, and get the 

 aid of some local friend or trusty acquaintance in their 

 purchase. For a season's shooting eight or ten trustworthy 

 animals, and five not quite so costly for your after-riders, 

 will, with luck, be an ample provision. The number seems large, 

 but accidents, sore backs, hard fare, and hard work, must 

 be taken into account. You may sometimes do with fewer 

 no doubt, but there ought to be a margin for loss. Men 

 who go to Africa with the idea that game will come to be 

 shot, will find their mistake." * 



The late Mr. Oswell was a great advocate for the 

 plan of running game with horses, and his undoubt- 

 edly great experience of African hunting, which ex- 

 tended back upwards of half a century, should cause 

 his opinions to have considerable weight. He con- 

 siders that in portions of Africa very little can be done 

 without horses ; and that 



"success depends enormously upon your stud, for the coun- 

 try is generally too open for stalking; and he (the horse) car- 

 ries you up to your game, in most instances, as near as you 

 like, and it is your own fault if you don't succeed. Had I 

 been the best shot ever looked along a rifle, I would have 

 done but a trifle without horses, in comparison with what I 

 accomplished with them." f 



Most African hunters have given the system a trial, 

 and there can be no doubt that it is one which has 

 many attractions and advantages ; but it also has its 

 disadvantages, and questions of this kind ought not to 

 be decided off-hand, without looking at it from every 

 point of view. 



* Big Game Shooting (Badminton Library Series), Edited by Clive 

 Phillips Wolley, with contributions from various sportsmen ; 1894, Vol. i., 

 p. 104 in paper on "South African Hunting," by "W. C. Oswell. 



j Ibid., Vol. i., p. 103. 



VOL. III. 15 



