MISCELLANEOUS HINTS. 389 



sarily be driven out of the gun before the whole mass is 

 entirely consumed, and the explosion must necessarily be 

 weakened, as the phenomena attending the explosion of gun- 

 powder is accounted for by the sudden and rapid generation of 

 an elastic fluid, which of course will not be properly produced 

 by the slow and unequal combustion of a damp compound. 



If the nitre used in the manufacture of the powder is not 

 perfectly pure, and thoroughly embodied with the other ingre- 

 dients, it will not burn with the rapidity so necessary for the 

 generation of that projectile force so inherent in this compound, 

 when all its constituents are properly incorporated. 



The mere circumstance of powder absorbing moisture, when 

 exposed to its effects, with more than ordinary rapidity, is a 

 positive proof of its inferiority, and is a sure sign that the nitre 

 is not pure, and that it contains some portion of muriate of 

 soda (common table salt), which substance is generally found in 

 combination with it, in its natural state, and which every one of 

 the least observation is perfectly aware attracts moisture with 

 singular facility. If the powder is moist, besides losing a consi- 

 derable portion of its strength, it soon fouls the gun, the grains 

 become caked together, and will not enter the nipple-hole, &c. 

 For these reasons, the Sportsman will be convinced that he can- 

 not be too careful of his powder, and will take every necessary 

 precaution to prevent the subtle compound from imbibing the 

 particles of moisture that the air is loaded with during damp 

 weather, more particularly on the bay shore, when in quest of 

 Water-fowl. It should always be kept in tin canisters, and 

 never trusted to paper, which of itself has a tendency to absorb 

 dampness, to say nothing of the danger of having packages of 

 powder carelessly wrapped in old newspaper, and laying about. 

 A package of this kind, containing nearly half a pound of 

 poAvder, we know of having been thrown into the fire by a 

 thrifty housewife, who mistook it for a bundle of rubbish that 

 she had collected up in a similar paper, a few moments before, 

 for the purpose of thus consigning to the flames. The con- 

 sequences of this unpardonable carelessness on the part of the 

 Sportsman might have proved very serious to us all, had not 

 the accident been observed by a brother chum, sitting close 

 by, who, with admirable courage and presence of mind, seized 



