| SOUTH AFRICA FIFTY YEARS AGO 29 
_ ramming direct upon the powder-charge, without wads or other 
substance intervening. In this manner a smooth-bore could 
be loaded with great rapidity, provided that the powder-charge 
4 was made up separately in the form of a paper cartridge, the end 
_ of which could be bitten off, and the contents thrust into the 
barrel, together with the paper covering. The ball would be 
_ placed above, and the whole could be rammed down by a single 
_ movement with a powerful loading rod if great expedition 
_ should be necessary. Although the actual loading could thus 
be accomplished easily, the great trouble was the adjustment 
_ of the cap upon the nipple, which with an unsteady horse was 
a work of difficulty. 
‘ This grand old gun exhibited in an unmistakable degree 
_ the style of hunting which distinguished its determined owner. 
_ The hard walnut stock was completely eaten away for an inch 
_ of surface ; the loss of wood suggested that rats had gnawed 
: it, as diese were minute traces of apparent teeth. This -ap- 
_ pearance might perhaps have been produced by an exceedingly 
- coarse rasp. The fore-portion of the stock into which the 
ramrod was inserted was so completely worn through by the 
‘same destructive action, that the brass end of the rod was 
_ exposed to view. The whole of this wear and tear was the 
result of friction with the ‘ wait-a-bit’ thorns ! 
f Oswell invariably carried his gun across the pommel of 
_his saddle when following an animal at speed. In this 
manner at a gallop he was obliged to face the low scrubby 
_‘ wait-a-bits,’ and dash through these unsparing thorns, regard- 
less of punishment and consequences, if he were to keep the 
‘game in view, which was absolutely essential if the animal were 
_ to be ridden down by superior pace and endurance. The 
_ walnut stock thus brought into hasty contact with sharp thorns 
q ‘became a gauge, through the continual friction, which afforded 
| amost interesting proof of the untiring perseverance of the 
' owner, and of the immense distances that he must have tra- 
" yersed at the highest speed during the five years’ unremitting 
' pursuit of game upon the virgin hunting-grounds of Southern 
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