152 THE BEST RIFLES POR THIN-SKINNED GAME. 



much resembled Sir Samuel Baker ; but then, when 

 his day's work was over, his favourite fowling-piece 

 was consigned to its case, as it was not destined to 

 be in his grip when a night alarm took place, or a 

 long and wearying march had to be performed. 

 Last, but not least, to be thought of on this subject, 

 is that where hunting has at times to be done on 

 horseback, as, for instance, in South Africa, it is 

 absolutely imperative that the very lightest arms 

 should be used compatible with effective execution, 

 for, strange as it may appear to the inexperienced, 

 nothing drags a man to pieces so utterly, as 

 galloping over rough ground with a heavy and 

 cumbersome weapon in his hand. After what I 

 have above said, the reader will not be surprised to 

 learn that I prefer a '450 or '500 double rifle for a 

 constant companion to the ponderous *577 bore. 



But why use a rifle at all when quick and accurate 

 shooting at short ranges is the desideratum, when the 

 " Ubique " gun can be obtained ? It was introduced 

 by me to the public after being the result of careful 

 study, many experiments, and great experience, and 

 but for it coming thoroughly up to the purpose it 

 was intended for, it would not have borne my nom 

 deplume, " Ubique/ 5 It is, however, well to say that 

 more should not be expected of it than the purpose 

 that it is manufactured for. 



A very old military friend of mine, and still a 

 great shikari y told me when we were discoursing of 

 " the old times/' i( If I had had such a weapon as the 

 ' Ubique ' when a visitor to your brother's bungalow 

 in the Hills, I should have done wonderful work, 

 for I was ever getting unexpected chances to kill big 

 game, which my old muzzle-loader perseveringly 

 refused to do." 



If a country is very open, and very long shots have 

 in consequence to be fired, a common Martini-Henry, 

 or a Westley-Richards, will be found as good, if not 



