INDIAN SHOOTING 183 



dangerous beasts a still heavier weapon, such as an 8-bore 

 with 8 drachms of powder, is desirable, though not absolutely 

 necessary, as the superior accuracy and handiness of a i2-bore 

 go far to counterbalance the extra power. For antelope and 

 gazelles the writer prefers a light single-barrelled -400 Ex- 

 press, taking 3 drachms of powder, to any other rifle that he has 

 ever used. 



So far for rifles. A shot-gun is a necessity everywhere, and 

 one of the best pot-hunting guns (the chief use of a gun on the 

 trip after big game) is one of three barrels two shot, 1 6 -bore, 

 and a -450 rifle underneath which will meet all requirements 

 on the march and near camp. As regards tents, the ordinary 

 Cabul tent (part of every officer's equipment in India), with a 

 smaller one for the servants, is ample for the Himalayas and 

 the plains in the cold weather, but a larger tent is required 

 during the hot weather in the plains. Manifold are the 

 instructions already published as to outfit ' Large Game 

 Shooting,' by Colonel Kinloch, ' The Sportsman's Guide to 

 Kashmir and Ladak,' by Major Ward, and ' The Sportsman's 

 Vade Mecum,' by K. C. A. J., are among the best books to con- 

 sult, as they are written by practical men. Among the points that 

 the intending traveller must bear in mind are : That the unit 

 of transport in the Himalayas is the coolie, and his load over a 

 snow pass is only 50 Ibs., though along an ordinary road he 

 can carry 60 Ibs. Pack animals can certainly be used over a 

 large portion of the country, but every snow pass forces the 

 traveller back to the unit, so that his baggage must be capable 

 of being arranged in 5o-lb. loads. Throughout the rest of 

 India carts can generally travel, and, failing them, camels, oxen, 

 or ponies can always be procured, so that the unit of trans- 

 port being greater, 'the sportsman can travel with far greater 

 comfort than he can in the Himalayas. Then, again, if the 

 traveller requires more than sixteen coolies to carry his baggage 

 in the Himalayas, he will be subjected to endless delays at every 

 changing station. A dozen men or so can be collected at short 

 notice almost anywhere, but over sixteen generally means delay 



