DANGER OF SMALL-BORES FOR GAUR SHOOTING 365 



be dead. Pieces of sticks and stones should always be 

 thrown at the body for some minutes after it is down. The 

 sportsman can, of course, when armed with a heavy rifle and 

 there is a sufficiently solid shelter behind which to retreat, 

 such as a bamboo clump or tree trunk in the immediate 

 vicinity of the animal, approach to within a yard or two and 

 administer a quietus. As little powder and ball as possible 

 should, however, be wasted, as not only is the surrounding 

 jungle disturbed for miles around, but it is useless expenditure 

 of ammunition. It is simply marvellous what a gaur will 

 take in the way of lead before succumbing, even from a 

 heavy weapon like 'the 8-bore, and at others how easily it is 

 killed. 



It is absolute folly attempting to use small-bore express 

 rifles upon such thick-skinned, muscular, big-boned, and 

 massive beasts as gaur. Many sportsmen have, I have no 

 doubt, been, fairly successful with small bores, but one day 

 in thick cover with a charging gaur, bull elephant, or tsine 

 in his immediate front, he will discover his mistake. An 

 article in the Field of September 10, 1898, entitled "Jungle 

 Experiences in Pahang," gives a very good instance of how 

 an experienced sportsman, Captain Syers, Commissioner of 

 Police for the Federated Malay States, lost his life through 

 having pinned his faith to a -577 express double rifle. I shall 

 here quote an extract from the above article for the benefit 

 of those sportsmen who may still be of the same opinion 

 with regard to a '577 and other small-bores upon huge and 

 dangerous game, who may not have seen the publication I 

 refer to. 



" We started down-river, reaching Knala Klan about mid- 

 night on the 1 2th. Next morning (July 12, 1897) we went 

 up the Klan river and landed at Padaung Ali. I landed here 

 at a grass plain on the river bank, and found eleven bison and 

 a calf feeding. I went back to the boats and informed Syers. 

 He was armed with a '577 express, and on his recom- 

 mendation I carried a similar weapon, leaving my lo-bore 

 in the boat. We started the bull through grass about five 

 feet high, and we both gave him the contents of both barrels ; 

 he made off at a terrific pace into the jungle. The remainder 



