Long Range Shooting. 21 



and waterbuck and puku are two of the toughest I have 

 met with, although if properly hit with the first bullet they 

 are as easily killed as anything else. 



Although lions are said to be pretty tough if not hit well 

 forward, a deep wound will probably cause their death ; 

 for being carnivorous feeders their wounds are more liable 

 to suppurate and cause inflammation in a very short space 

 of time. 



Elephants and rhinos are easy to kill, and so are buffaloes 

 if well hit ; although an old buffalo bull can carry off a lot 

 of lead if he is not struck well forward. 



Mr. F. C. Selous has mentioned that he has found lions 

 easy to kill, and most people who have shot elephants have 

 found it very easy to kill them with small or medium bore 

 rifles. Of course it is imperative to get close if one is 

 to expect to place the bullet well, and certainly the most 

 important shot with all game is the first one. People who 

 fire long range shots at dangerous game, and then have to 

 follow up the animals, really take much more risk in doing 

 so than they would do in approaching close for the first 

 shot, when they could make tolerably certain of placing 

 their bullet in a vital spot. Also it must be remembered 

 that a small bullet in the right place is always better than a 

 large one in the WTong place. 



After seeing the natives started on cutting up the elands, 

 one of which I had given complete to Memeza to divide 

 with his brother and one or two other headmen of adjoining 

 villages, I started off to try to find some more game, and 

 soon reached a dambo, where, however, nothing was visible. 

 I walked along the edge of the timber, and every now and 

 then I turned round and looked back, when suddenly I saw 

 a bull sable leave the bush on the opposite side and begin to 

 cross the dambo towards my side. It was a good 600 yards 

 off when I first caught sight of it, so I turned back and ran 

 inside the thick bush, for I wanted to get a shot at it before 

 it reached thick cover. When I thought I was about 

 200 yards from the place I made for the open again, and 

 saw the sable walking slowly towards the bush. I sat down 



