vi THE TIGER 119 



It has already been remarked that a really staunch and tract- 

 able elephant is rarely met with. This renders tiger -shooting 

 exceedingly uncertain, as it is impossible to shoot correctly with a 

 rifle when an animal is flinging itself about to an extent that 

 renders it necessary to hold fast by the howdah rail. I generally 

 take an ordinary No. 12 gun as an adjunct. If the grass is very 

 high and dense, the tiger will seldom be farther than 20 yards 

 distant, and a smooth-bore breechloader with a spherical ball will 

 shoot sufficiently well to hit the palm of your hand. This accuracy 

 may be obtained to 30 or 40 yards provided that the bullet is 

 sufficiently large to enter the chamber, but a size too large for the 

 muzzle. It will accordingly squeeze its way through without the 

 slightest windage, and will shoot with great precision, with a 

 charge of 4J drams of powder and a ball of pure soft lead. A No. 

 12 is exceedingly powerful, and if 7 Ibs. in weight, it can be fired 

 with one hand like a pistol. This is an immense advantage, as 

 the shooter can hold tight by the howdah rail with his left hand, 

 while he uses his gun with the right. I always load the right 

 barrel with ball, and the left with the same charge of powder (4 

 drams), but with either 16 S.S.G-. or 1| ounce of A. A. or B.B. 

 shot. For leopards there is nothing so certain as S.S.G. at 20 or 

 30 yards ; and for hog -deer and other sorts of small game the 

 smaller shot is preferable, but always with the same full charge of 

 powder. 



A smooth-bore gun is much easier to use than a rifle from a 

 howdah, as it is unnecessary to squint along the sight, but the 

 shot is taken at once with the rapidity usual in ordinary shooting 

 at flying objects. Care must be taken, when firing only with one 

 hand, that the wrist should be turned to the left, so that the 

 hammers of the gun are lying over in that direction instead of 

 being erect. In that position the elbow is raised upon the right, 

 and the recoil of the gun will not throw it up towards the 

 shooter's face, which might happen should the gun be held with 

 the hammers uppermost ; it is also much easier to hold a gun 

 with one hand in the attitude described. Should a tiger spring 

 upon an elephant, it would be exceedingly difficult to defend the 

 animal unless by shooting with one hand, as the struggles of the 

 elephant would render it impossible to stand. 



I had a practical example of this shortly after the departure of 

 Suchi Khan, when I pushed on to Rohumari and met Mr. G. P. 

 Sanderson, April 1, 1885. He had brought with him the entire 

 force of elephants from the Garo Hills, the season for capturing 

 wild elephants having just expired. Many of his men were 



