PJFLES, GROUND AND OUTFIT. 285 



calibre has not the low trajectory of an Express, 

 and for antelope and deer shooting the latter 

 weapon is preferable, as it gives a point-blank 

 trajectory of some two hundred yards, and firing 

 shots at longer distances than this is to be 

 deprecated for several reasons, to which I have 

 alluded in a former chapter. I have never used 

 an Express myself on tigers, but, from all I have 

 heard of the results attained by using one for this 

 particular sport, I am led to believe that they do 

 not possess the l bone-smashing ' effect, nor do 

 they administer such a shock to the system as a 

 spherical ball, which is so essential in shooting 

 dangerous animals. 



Of course, a sportsman using an eight-bore 

 would have even a greater advantage ; but the 

 exertion of carrying such a heavy rifle over rough 

 ground would be a considerable drawback, and 

 tend to unsteady his nerves when coolness and 

 precision were most required. In the pursuit of 

 elephant and bison, as well as buffalo and rhino- 

 ceros, an eight-bore would be invaluable. It 

 could be carried by the sportsman's gun-bearer 

 until he got close to his game, and be used for 

 the first shot, when the wound inflicted by such 

 a heavy weapon would considerably ' take the 

 kick out of any animal struck. 



It cannot be too strongly borne in mind that, 



