Packing Horns and Skins. 243 



The best way to send skins home would certainly be in 

 big boxes with a tin or zinc lining, which could be soldered 

 down after drenching the contents with turpentine, and 

 putting some naphthalene marbles inside. 



As the transport on these would be very expensive, the 

 next best thing is to send in canvas tightly sewn, with 

 instructions that care and despatch should be used in their 

 transportation. 



In packing horns, some coarse canvas packed with paper 

 should be wrapped round the points to prevent chipping or 

 breakage, and the same applies to the points and bases of 

 elephant ivory. There is a rather heavy duty on the export 

 of ivory from the different territories in Central Africa, and 

 in North-Eastern Rhodesia. The duty on elephant ivory 

 is 2s. 6d. per pound, and on hippo ivory and rhino horns 

 2d. per pound. There is no duty on the export of horns 

 and skins, but a small stamp charge is levied for the 

 permit. 



Natives, as I have mentioned, can be taught to skin well, 

 although it will take them some time to master the more 

 difficult parts, such as the skin of the ears, eyes, and nose, 

 so these should be done personally. 



In taking a skin, the natives invariably cut it on the 

 outside of the legs, instead of the inside. Skins taken off 

 like this would be useless for natural history purposes. 



Finally, the main desideratum is to keep all skins dry, 

 and to inspect them often, to see that destructive insects 

 are not present. 



III. BUYING SECOND-HAND RIFLES AND GUNS. 



Often a good weapon can be picked up second-hand and 

 several first class London gunmakers sell very reliable 

 firearms of this description, but several points have to be 

 considered when buying such a weapon. 



In both rifles and guns, the barrels are obviously the 

 main feature, as naturally the wear and tear in a weapon 

 affects the barrels more than any part. 



R 2 



