io After Big Game in Central Africa 



sportsman. Nothing equals the small pyramid, sur- 

 mounted or not by a ball. It is good to have it in 

 platinum, in silver, or in ivory, because it stands out 

 better ; the material of which it is made is a mere 

 matter of taste and habit. Diamonds are not worth 

 much ; I have tried them, as all other modern inven- 

 tions in gunnery, and have returned to the silver sight 

 upon which at night can be placed a large pea in 

 white or phosphorescent enamel. 



In regard to the lock system for a rifle for ordinary 

 use, nothing is equal to the English T or a treble 

 lock top-lever of the best quality. The hammerless 

 does not seem to me to be sufficiently sure enough 

 yet for countries where there are no gunsmiths. 



Pistol grips are indispensable for rifles, first be- 

 cause they adapt themselves better to the hand, and 

 then because they allow of the stock being grasped 

 in a particular way. As was seen above, I plate my 

 stocks with steel. So much for the armament. 



My hunting equipment was very simple, a cart- 

 ridge belt for each kind of ammunition, 1 one or two 

 cartridge-pouches to carry reserve ammunition and a 

 few small objects, water-bottles of a special pattern, 

 some rockets to smoke out hyenas, traps for large 

 animals, a set of luminous sights, a Trouve projector, 

 some phosphorus, white Bengal lights, some knives 

 and axes, a folding telescope, and a night field-glass. 



1 I repeat that the solid bullet and the expansive bullet are suffi- 

 cient for all kinds of shooting; with cartridges of both kinds and a 

 good Express a hunter is in a position to kill all the animals of the 

 two hemispheres. 



