xiv THE BUFFALO 279 



cap. This strong and quick-burning powder produced a severe 

 recoil, but the penetration was enormous. It is this power which 

 is absolutely necessary when shooting buffaloes, rhinoceros, etc. 

 If the animal charges, you have no chance of escape unless you 

 possess a rifle that will rake it from end to end. When making a 

 post-mortem examination of a bull buffalo that has been killed in 

 this superior manner, the passage of the bullet through such dense 

 masses of muscles and bone appears incredible. The depth of 

 chest through the brisket from the front is at least 2 feet of solid 

 matter, chiefly gristle and breast bones ; that alone will stop an 

 ordinaiy bullet; but a 2-oz. hardened spherical with 12 drams of 

 powder will drive through the entire animal, and the ball will be 

 discovered nestled beneath the hide somewhere below the tail. I 

 have known a 3-oz. hardened conical bullet pass completely through 

 an African bull elephant, from one shoulder to that opposite, from 

 which it escaped. These are the sort of tools for heavy game ; and 

 if the hunter is strong enough for his work, and is properly armed 

 with double-barrels, there will be every chance in his favour, and 

 he will not be included in the gloomy list of casualties that have 

 befallen so many of his race, chiefly through the inferiority of their 

 weapons. 



I have killed elephants with a No. 16 spherical bullet (1 oz.), 

 and African buffaloes and rhinoceros with a 24 bore ('577) and 

 only 2 drams of powder, in the old days of muzzle-loaders ; but 

 these were favourable shots in positions which afforded slight 

 resistance. Such instances of success are exceptions to the rule, 

 and I cannot too energetically impress my experience upon all 

 beginners, that they must be especially armed with rifles that are 

 of proportionate strength to the animal to be encountered. 



Although the bull buffalo is generally more formidable than the 

 female, the latter is even more determined to destroy her antagonist 

 if in defence of her calf. I have already described, under the head 

 of the "Tiger," the courage of the buffalo in attacking that .formid- 

 able beast should it presume to invade the sanctity of the herd. 

 There is no creature in existence so determined as the buffalo to 

 fight to the last gasp, when once its combative spirit has been 

 aroused. 



There are very few persons who have had a really wide experi- 

 ence of buffaloes in the various countries which they inhabit, and 

 the description that I have given might appear somewhat superla- 

 tive ; but although many may be shot which offer no resistance, 

 and fall unresistingly before the rifle, these are not to be depended 

 upon as guides or examples. The hunter of buffaloes who follows 



