SOUTH AFRICA FIFTY YEARS AGO 29 



ramming direct upon the powder-charge, without wads or other 

 substance intervening. In this manner a smooth-bore could 

 be loaded with great rapidity, provided that the powder-charge 

 was made up separately in the form of a paper cartridge, the end 

 of which could be bitten off, and the contents thrust into the 

 barrel, together with the paper covering. The ball would be 

 placed above, and the whole could be rammed down by a single 

 movement with a powerful loading rod if great expedition 

 should be necessary. Although the actual loading could thus 

 be accomplished easily, the great trouble was the adjustment 

 of the cap upon the nipple, which with an unsteady horse was 

 a work of difficulty. 



This grand old gun exhibited in an unmistakable degree 

 the style of hunting which distinguished its determined owner. 

 The hard walnut stock was completely eaten away for an inch 

 of surface ; the loss of wood suggested that rats had gnawed 

 it, as there were minute traces of apparent teeth. This ap- 

 pearance might perhaps have been produced by an exceedingly 

 coarse rasp. The fore-portion of the stock into which the 

 ramrod was inserted was so completely worn through by the 

 same destructive action, that the brass end of the rod was 

 exposed to view. The whole of this wear and tear was the 

 result of friction with the ' wait-a-bit ' thorns ! 



Oswell invariably carried his gun across the pommel of 

 his saddle when following an animal at speed. In this 

 manner at a gallop he was obliged to face the low scrubby 

 ' wait-a-bits,' and dash through these unsparing thorns, regard- 

 less of punishment and consequences, if he were to keep the 

 game in view, which was absolutely essential if the animal were 

 to be ridden down by superior pace and endurance. The 

 walnut stock thus brought into hasty contact with sharp thorns 

 became a gauge, through the continual friction, which afforded 

 a most interesting proof of the untiring perseverance of the 

 owner, and of the immense distances that he must have tra- 

 versed at the highest speed during the five years' unremitting 

 pursuit of game upon the virgin hunting-grounds of Southern 



