LOADING A PUNT-GUN. 351 



before it gets to the touch-hole ; and the consequence 

 will be a flash in the pan. 



To load a gun that can be unshipped, have 

 a wooden measure to fit into the caliber, and then 

 suddenly raise the gun perpendicular with the mea- 

 sure in the muzzle. The greater part of the powder 

 will then have a perpendicular fall, and your hand is 

 out of the way in case of a spark in the chamber. 

 To load a gun that can neither be unshipped nor 

 highly eleyated,./r<0 stop the touch-hole and muzzle, 

 in case of a spark, and then use a cylinder of either 

 tin, copper, or brass, cut open all the way down on 

 one side. Put this in, on a rod with the open part 

 uppermost. When home, turn it round, give it a 

 little shake, and the powder is lodged. I have di- 

 rected Fullerd as to the best mode of making this 

 machine, so that any person may be furnished with 

 one by applying to him. 



The shot may be either done up in a cartridge, or 

 driven home by the ramrod. 



With regard to flint or detonater, I have, till very 

 lately, used only the former with a swivel-gun ; but 

 they have both been tried by the men who constantly 

 use these guns, and the far greater proportion have 

 decided in favour of the flint. They say that the 

 recoil from a detonater is so sudden as to shake every 

 thing too much ; and also, that the birds, by night, 

 set up their heads at the flash, just enough to be a 

 much better target; and, therefore, the detonater 

 does not kill so many. I merely give this report as 



