ELI 



160 ELEPHANTS. 



possible that the heavier charges of powder caused the bullet 

 to mushroom sufficiently to liberate the sharp and hard tip, 

 which would fly forward with the same velocity as the 

 bullet at the moment of liberation, its shape and smaller 



(a) (6) 



surface enabling it to penetrate further than the rest of the 

 projectile, which was of ordinary soft lead, for when cast- 

 ing them it was assumed that, as the tip would bear the 

 brunt of penetration, hardened lead behind would be 

 superfluous. 



I was first introduced to wild elephants when quartered 

 at Bangalore in 1870 by Gordon Gumming, who then held 

 an important position in the Mysore Commission. He had 

 perfected an Intelligence Department for shikar purposes, 

 by means of which immediate news of the presence of all 

 big game within fifty miles of that station was at once 

 transmitted to him. He had previously held a similar 

 appointment at Shimoga, where by inaugurating a like 

 method of obtaining " khubber " he had developed the 

 sporting capabilities of that district to the utmost extent, 

 and had had capital sport. He was a fair shot with a 

 rifle, moderately so with a gun, and plucky and as cool 

 as a cucumber when engaged with big game. Of course 

 with his exceptional advantages, he had acquired a good 

 knowledge of the jungle and the habits of its inmates. 

 At that time I had already made my debut with tigers, 

 panthers, bears, &c., but knew nothing about bison or 



