4 After Big Game in Central Africa 



is suggested to you, not to make this useless 

 expenditure. 



All these rifles had the stock plated that is, pro- 

 tected by a steel plate, which is a precaution against 

 the ease with which it can be broken should it receive 

 a violent blow or should an animal walk over it. 



In the matter of unrifled weapons I took only 

 a 12-bore Winchester fowling-piece, capable of firing 

 six shots a very good gun for rough service, having 

 the advantage of possessing interchangeable pieces, 

 and quite sufficient for killing a few guinea-fowls or 

 firing buck-shot. To defend oneself against natives, 

 especially at night, buck-shot are infinitely better than 

 bullets. I had also a small 32-bore double-barrelled 

 fowling-piece for small birds, intended for collec- 

 tions, and which it was necessary not to spoil ; finally, 

 two large Galand revolvers and a small tue-tue, in 

 case of emergencies, for it must not be forgotten 

 that I proposed upon setting out to cross regions where 

 Stanley, Peters, Wissman, and many others had 

 experienced extreme difficulties with the natives. 



Here, then, is a list of the arms which I took with 

 me: 



1. 1 double-barrelled 8-bore rifle. 



2. 2 express 577-bore rifles. 



3. 1 express 303-bore rifle (Metford). 



4. 1 smooth 12-bore Winchester six-shot repeater. 



As to the ammunition taken I give here the 

 detailed enumeration : 



8-bore 100 small cartridges, with round 2 ounce bullets 

 (5 drachms .of powder), for buffaloes or to dispatch large 

 pachydermata. 



