HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



almost to obliterate the animal, needing a steady aim p 

 a thorough knowledge of the shooting of your weapon. 



In Ceylon, no matter what game you are pursuing, it is 

 an absolute necessity to have a local native with you who 

 knows the country, otherwise you are a lost man in ten 

 minutes, such is the sameness of forest and park and want 

 of landmarks, owing to the limitations of your field of 

 vision. When your game is sighted by all means do your 

 own stalking if you can, but don't start wandering about 

 by yourself unless you know the country well and are a 

 practised "jungle man." 



In big parks, or indeed any park fairly free of trees 

 and bushes, it is best to walk through the middle slowly 

 and quietly, allowing nothing to escape your eyes. In 

 this way you can very generally spot your game before 

 it sees you, and take measures, if necessary, for your 

 approach accordingly. In scrubby overgrown places you 

 must note the wind and sneak round the edge of the 

 jungle as stealthily as a cat, for you will come on your 

 game at close quarters, needing quick shooting unless you 

 are lucky enough to remain unseen after spotting your 

 quarry. In Ceylon, anywhere, you must shoot to kill, 

 especially if you are armed with a .303 or other small- 

 bore rifle, otherwise you may lose your game owing fre- 

 quently to the want of a blood trail and the difficulties 

 of tracking in the forest. The most deadly shots are 

 behind the shoulder and at the junction of neck and 

 shoulders. In the first case the lungs are pierced, and a 

 deer will seldom run over 50 yards. In the second case 

 the animal usually drops in its tracks, and, if the neck 

 is broken, is of course done for, but if the neck is not 

 broken it may need the knife to finish it. A broadside 

 shot full into the shoulder is very good also, perhaps 



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